Here’s Your Guide To Surviving The Terrible Twos, Because This Age Sure Does Have A Reputation For Being Difficult
What’s the first thing people think of when a two-year-old is mentioned? Oh boy, it’s the terrible twos–good luck with that, mom!
Two-year-olds have a reputation for being difficult, so the toddler years are a time that many parents enter with dread and apprehension.
The term “terrible twos” has been used since the 1950s to describe the developmental phase that toddlers go through. During this stage, they may display defiant behavior, such as saying “no,” ignoring the rules, and throwing tantrums.
The terrible twos generally start when a child turns two, hence the name. However, the terrible twos can start earlier or later, depending on the kid.
Some start as soon as eighteen months, while others are late bloomers, only beginning to demonstrate terrible two behavior after turning three.
If you’re a parent with a child nearing their second birthday and you’re feeling nervous about the upcoming years, it might help to not think about the terrible twos being…well, terrible.
The reason that toddlers act up around this age is not that they’re specifically trying to give you a hard time. At this age, their brains are rapidly developing.
It’s when they’re just beginning to learn how to communicate, explore independence, and understand concrete concepts. So it’s normal and healthy for them to exhibit challenging behaviors.
Even so, dealing with the terrible twos isn’t easy, so here are some tips for how to get through this stage and help your child realize what behaviors are acceptable.
izhphoto – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual child
First and foremost, you must adjust your expectations of toddlers. Around age two is when they start getting better at walking, talking, and emulating adult routines.
They might want to feed themselves, talk on the phone, put on their own socks, or engage in any other activities they often see adults doing.
But just because they’re starting to do things on their own doesn’t mean they have the capacity for high-level instruction. They still need a lot of guidance and may not yet have the language to communicate their desires in a way that makes sense to you.
So when your child isn’t immediately listening to your requests, cut your toddler and yourself some slack. After all, you’re both just learning how to navigate life.
Next, teach your child strategies on how to appropriately deal with their feelings, such as deep breathing. If your toddler is prone to tantrums, this may help lessen their frequency. Witnessing a two-year-old in the throes of a full-blown temper tantrum is never pleasant.
But when you recognize a temper tantrum for what it is, you’ll see that it’s simply an expression of their frustration. Help your child learn methods for calming down and teach them how to identify when their body is not in a calm state.
Give your child praise when they attempt to use the techniques they learned for calming the self. Over time, they will become better and better at regulating their emotions.
Finally, offer your toddler choices. It could be something simple, like picking between two snacks. This makes them feel like they have a say in things while maintaining your authority as a parent.
At the end of the day, remember that the terrible twos are a normal, essential part of your child’s development that will soon pass.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
She Was Amelia Earhart’s Flight Instructor, And The First Woman To Have An Aviation Business
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Parenting