How to Deal With the "Terrible Twos" Stage

Are temper tantrums a daily event in your house?themselves. Your "feeling talk" might just help with a
There's no doubt that raising young children canpending explosion.
sometimes become challenging. However the futureLet your child make age appropriate choices as long
result is worth the emotional and physical rollercoaster.as choices fit within reason, such as dress code rules.
When children are raised properly, with the care andThen go along with it and don't pester them about it
attention they deserve, they become the leaders andlater. Kids need to have their personal space and learn
role-models of the new world. This is an importantresponsibility over their appearance and grooming
stage in your child's development and characterized byefforts. They have discovered that they can do things
frequent mood swings, temper tantrums, and liberalon their own and that they have their own opinions. It is
use of the word "no". Older kids sometimes resortwhen this independence is challenged that things
back to the tantrum stage too, especially when abecome "terrible." Too often, parents initially give a
sudden change happens in their life. Temper tantrumschoice, only to take it away later, laying on the guilt, or
generally occur when things don't go the way a childmaking a kid upset. At times like this kids may say
wants. Before they do learn how to speak and gaugehurtful things like "I don't like you anymore", or even
their emotions, the child reacts in frustration becausegive you the silent treatment.
he cannot express what he wants.Let your child know it's ok to disagree. Let them feel
The worst part can be that unresolved parentingfree to disagree with you, as long as it's done in a
issues can have an impact on your marriage. Unlessrespectful way. Sometimes kids need time to process
you get control of this, your relationship will suffer.how they feel and may very well be able to resolve
Fighting about the kids is a very common reason fortheir emotions. Toddlers learn by constant repetition. In
couples to argue.order to completely grasp what you are trying to
What do children learn at this stage?make them understand keep consistent. Sometimes a
In this stage children learn self-control, self-confidence,child can be told that he/she is doing something wrong
empathy, and anxiety. They simply don't have theand know that it's wrong but continue to do it, for
words to express their wants and needs, nor theexample he/she should not pull anyone's hair. The child
maturity to gauge their emotions, so it is extremelycontinues only because he/she does not know how to
important for parents to create a supportivecontrol it yet. In order to completely grasp what you
environment for them and model the correct behavior.are trying to make them understand repetition, patience
How you respond to the outbursts will largelyand consistency is the key. When you remind her five
determine whether your child will decrease or increase.times and she still does not listen, at the tenth time she
Tips That Will Help Stop Those Meltdowns:will finally understand what you are trying to tell her.
Your best defense is to anticipate a tantrum's onset.Have self control! Your children love you, and hurtful
Once you learn to identify your child's tantrumwords and criticisms, especially in the guise of helpful
approaching signs, you are in the best place to defuseparenting, can damage a parent-child relationship.
it. An effective strategy is to divert his attention longAfter a tantrum collect your thoughts, and then assess
enough to reroute his energy. Try to redirect youryour response. Calm consistency is a key to ending
child's attention by saying something like "Look! Cantantrums so be mindful of how you respond to your
you see that cat outside?" or try something, likechild. Parents should find a time to talk when a child
"Come, let's read your new book!" This techniqueseems the most responsive to conversations.
doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.Conclusion
Calming methods also work really well.Try rubbing herAt this stage in their development the child is learning
back, holding her gently, or humming a relaxing song.more self-control while he/she becomes more
Get down eye to eye, and talk in a soothing voice. Putcooperative. Learning to take control over your child at
your child's feelings into words: "You look so tired! Shallthis stage is an important part of parenthood. Any
we cuddle up and lie down on the bed?" At this ageparent can learn how to drastically reduce the
the child may begin to consider and realize that otherresistance and get children behave better by using
people have feelings and start to develop empathysome key principles and language techniques.