Empathize
Toddlers often have limited vocabularies. You will want to focus on how you might feel if you did not know the words, but you were tired, frustrated, or uncomfortable. When babies are young, they cry to communicate their needs. Toddlers have built a small vocabulary, but they often do not know what to say or do with their words.
I sometimes hear teachers, parents, and caregivers tell toddlers to “use their words,” but they are too young to know which words they need.
Model the words. How would you feel if you were hungry but couldn’t remember the word yogurt or snack because it was new? What if you were a native English speaker who was suddenly left in Germany? You had a few German lessons and understood some words, but you do not remember what to say to ask for a sandwich. How might you feel? You might be frustrated.
Depending on your hunger level, you might even cry. Now, as an adult, you might know to go to a store and point to what you want, but a toddler does not readily know what to do. If your German teacher shouted, “Use your words,” at you in German, you might get upset.
This feeling is what toddlers feel. They sometimes do not know what to do to get what they want or need, so they take it, hit, or cry. Put yourself in their shoes.