There’s no single right way to raise a toddler. Most families borrow from several approaches. Here’s a quick guide to six popular ones, and how to choose what fits.
Choosing what fits
Your family’s values. Pick ideas that feel like a natural extension of how you see life and learning, whether that’s independence, creativity or close connection.
Your child’s temperament. Some kids thrive on structure; others do best when they lead. Watch what helps your child feel secure and curious.
Your real life. An approach only works if you can stick with it. Some take a lot of time or resources, so be honest about what fits your days.
1. Attachment parenting
Focus: a strong emotional bond and a secure base. Key ideas: responding to cues, lots of closeness, babywearing, gentle discipline, positive communication, and balancing the child’s needs with the family’s. Good to know: sleeping close is part of this approach for many families, but Canadian safe sleep guidance is to share a room, not a bed, for the first six months, with baby on their back in their own crib or bassinet.
2. Montessori
Focus: independence and child-led learning. Key ideas: a prepared, orderly environment; hands-on, real-life materials; self-paced exploration; the adult as a guide; and nurturing natural curiosity. Try at home: a low shelf with a few toys, a step stool at the sink, and real child-sized jobs.
3. Reggio Emilia
Focus: creativity, collaboration and self-expression. Key ideas: the child as capable and full of ideas; learning through projects and exploration; the environment as the “third teacher”; and documenting learning through art and photos. Try at home: follow a big interest (dinosaurs, trucks) into a project with books, drawings and outings.
4. Positive parenting
Focus: connection and teaching rather than punishment. Key ideas: encouragement, empathetic listening, clear and loving limits, modelling the behaviour you want, and focusing on solutions. Research: strong evidence supports warm, positive approaches for better behaviour and relationships.
5. Authoritative parenting
Focus: high warmth plus clear expectations. Key ideas: firm, consistent boundaries; explaining the reasons behind rules; encouraging independence; and being actively involved. Research: decades of research link this balanced style with good outcomes for kids.
6. Routine-based parenting
Focus: predictability and security. Key ideas: consistent daily rhythms for meals, naps and bedtime, clear expectations, and structure balanced with flexibility. Research: regular routines are linked with better sleep and emotional regulation in young children.
Make it your own
Take what works, leave what doesn’t, and adjust as your child grows. The common thread in all six is the same: a warm, responsive grown-up and a child who feels safe to explore.