Toddlerhood is full of its share of surprises and we will dive into the top 4 ways to flawlessly tame the terrible twos.
Normalize the situation. You may have heard of the terrible twos occurring at only age 2, but let’s debunk that myth shall we? The “terrible twos” can begin anywhere from 18 to 30 months of age and last well into the third year of a toddler’s life. This completely normal development phase causes many behavior problems in children; namely, the dreaded temper tantrums. Temper tantrums are one of the most common behavior problems in children, but become less frequent as a child grows and develops. Remind yourself that tantrums are temporary, occurring a few or less times a day.
Walk the walk, talk the talk. Did you know that toddlerhood is one of the most exciting stages of a child’s intellectual and physical growth? Your child will learn the basic fundamentals of verbal, physical and emotional skills by learning how to walk, talk, share with others and so much more. Toddlers have a deep desire to scream their independence and discover their sense of self on their own terms. They’re fierce, frustrated and fun all at once and it can be difficult for parents to keep up.
Stay calm. When your child gets “worked up”, keep your composure. We recommend redirecting their attention towards something else. For example, if they’re frustrated with a game, introduce a different activity. Burst into song. Play in a different room. Distracting your child is easily one of the best ways to enable their positive behavior. We also recommend specific popular calming tools such as play-doh, calm-down sensory bottles and slime to name a few. According to Psychology Today, squeezing a stress ball or playing with play-doh sends soothing sensory signals to the emotional side of your toddler’s brain and effectively calms him or her down.
Control what you can. Less than desirable behavior is more likely to happen if you let it. Keep meal and sleep schedules consistent. Offer your toddler a choice of what toy they’d like to play with or what color shirt they want to wear. Instead of giving into the tantrum at the grocery store, calm your child down outside. Although training a toddler can be difficult, do not resort to violent methods like yelling or swearing. Your child may do enough of that for the both of you! Jokes aside, be patient with yourself, your partner and especially your child. It’s not easy. Managing your child’s unruly behavior will begin to become second nature in no time.
The Cradle Boss Baby is the #1 resource for new and current parents to help break down the best practices for pregnancy, parenting and beyond. Our team is composed of highly-skilled childcare specialists, nannies and caregivers (some who are parents themselves!) to best support and understand your needs as a new parent. Stay tuned for Part 9 of our “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” Series in October where we discuss appropriate diets/meal plans for your toddlers.
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