Do you believe in the "terrible two's?" I do believe that all kids are different, but they sure do seem to start having a mind of their own at around the age of two. It can be a good thing, since they start to see things differently, have ideas, understand more, develop personality, and become a bit more independent. All these things can include a bit of "rebellion" as well though. It's the latter that can often present a challenge. What do you think about this phenomenon?
It certainly isn't pretty common and I'd say if your two year old doesn't turn into an adorable little monster at this stage, you're one of the lucky ones. Can't get mad or blame them for this though, they are going through monumental changes and are learning how to express all of these new thoughts and feelings the best way they can. Before, they could only cry. Now, the options are so much greater, which makes them difficult to manage.
Perhaps that age of 2 years is a phase in life where rigid development is happening. Babies are like plants that grow and being a toddler is the most dynamic part of growing. But I don’t understand that part about rebellion. Maybe it is just a way of the toddler to show that he has learned things. Like with food, toddlers are used to being fed and there comes a time that they refuse to eat a particular food if they don’t like the taste. That means they have learned already.
I have to agree with @James McAllister above. Indeed this is phase is full of suprises for parents as the child says things that stunns you at times. Its fun for them but it can be embarrassing for parents sometimes. Have patience and know that tgis ohase would end too.
Yeah, I can only imagine what it feels like in their shoes. I think adorable monster covers it pretty well, ha ha. I actually like watching them turn the corner from the crying only phase into one where they begin to express themselves. It's pretty amazing really. It's the tantrums I could do without.
I think at this point I have heard them all, the thrilling threes or the fearful fours and on and on, but I think that the most common still has to be the twos. I think that means that it is still universally accepted as the worst years.
Just wait until they are teenagers. The teen years make the terrible two's look like cake, ha ha. The two milestones are somewhat similar though. Kids have to "rebel" to a certain degree as they become their own person. They are feeling their way around in the dark, so to speak. They are learning to express themselves and think and do for themselves. These are all steps toward becoming a more independent person (eventually).
Interesting to learn about this so called 'terrible two' this is probably the time kids start developing their minds. If that holds true really then parents or guardians should watch out for this time in their kids development to properly nurture their minds for positive traits they would like for their kids
Absolutely. We can try to teach them, but they still have free will. The hard part (in my experience) is watching them make mistakes or bad choices. The worst part of that is letting them experience the consequences so they'll learn from it. Most parents want to shelter their kids from everything. It's really hard not to do that. You have to let them fall to learn to walk, as the saying goes. It applies to a lot of "firsts."
I don't believe in the terrible twos no, or at least it didn't happen to me. One other sentence applies, that is the older the worse, so yeah it's true, the older they are, the more work it is and the bigger the concerns are. Sometimes I wish they still were in my wife's belly.
I have known a young man who has struggled with the same issue just recently. His name is Alex and he has two young sons who have passed the 'terrible twos'. It is real....
LOL, you make it sound so dramatic @faith! So Alex has two sons who have passed the terrible twos, but what does that mean exactly? Sometimes as parents we tend to overreact to everything our kids do, and that is not healthy. There are limits sure, but they are kids, and they are in the age to mess up stuff.
I like the adorable monsters part that you said, I had experienced this with 3 of my cousins. All of them were monsters at the age of two, I wouldn't say adorable since they aren't. It would've been easier for us if they were adorable. They weren't that cute and they had tantrums all the time.
I think that any parent that has had children in the past, we can't NOT believe in the terrible two's! For the children I just think that they get to that age where they want to try and experience as much as they can, and no matter how much the parent tries to control them it makes no difference. From the parents point of view as well, if they are a first child then I think sometimes our own attitude can rub off on the child as they get to that age. The 'novelty' aspect of being a parent is slowly wearing off and even though you care and love them as much as you always have done, it seems to all of a sudden be a lot more hard work with little reward and maybe the child can pick up on that which obviously isn't going to help.
Having three kids myself and my youngest just turning two years old, I definitely do believe in the terrible twos! I do believe that it has a lot to do the changes that are going on in their minds. They are more curious and get bored easily, which results in them getting into anything and everything they lay their little eyes on. They are learning to think more for themselves about their likes and their dislikes and learning to be their own person. These are big steps in life so I believe the terrible twos are just a part of that transformation for them. I will say, in my own experience, the best way to deal with the terrible twos is to give them lots of things to do and learn. If you keep their little minds busy, they tend to get into a lot less things and are a lot less messy! As for the fits they'll be throwing and the crying and getting mad, these are all just their way of learning to express themselves, so being firm about too much expression, such as fits and screaming is a good idea, but other than that I just try to be patient with my little monster and try to teach her the right ways to express herself without getting mad at her. Getting mad at them just tends to show them that reactions in anger are best when someone is doing something you don't like. And we all know, monkey see monkey do. Not to mention, this is the time when they are learning the most and will shape the children they grow into, so these times are fragile when teaching your kids how to act by the way you react to them.
