Does the thought of the terrible twos scare you … Then you are not alone.
When your two-year-old is upset, it can send a shock wave. You would be surprised by how angry and combative a toddler can be.
it’s usually because they are not getting what they want. You want to help your toddler and it drives you nuts that he will not listen.
But what can you do when you are dealing with the terrible twos?
Why Do Toddlers Get Upset?
Every parent has been there. Your usually angelic (or at least moderately well behaved) child is suddenly intractable, full of rage, or even engaged in a full-blown temper tantrum.
Worse, your usual discipline measures don’t even make a dent in the attitude or anger.
What to do?
Angry children can sometimes be difficult to control because they are not getting what they want. They are not able to reason logically and they have less self-control.
Therefore, you’ll have to deal with angry kids who may start hitting, spitting, or throwing objects since they do not know how to manage their emotions.
Even worst, they may sulk and refuse to open up about what they’re unhappy about, withdraw from family and playgroups, and scream the house down.
With all that said, he or she would need a lot of parental guidance to help them cope and adjust.
8 Tips For Taming Your Fiesty Toddler
As a parent, you love your child more than anything else in the world, but even the most well-behaved children have their moments. Those with children are often reminded that parenting is a 24/7 job. Does your toddler constantly make you pull out your hair?
Try these tips for dealing with toddler misbehavior:
1. Give your children the attention they deserve
Often times, children misbehave because they’re seeking attention. Since they don’t know the difference between positive and negative attention, they’ll act out when they want you to notice them.
By giving children positive attention, you’ll reduce the tendency for them to act out. Spend as much time as possible with your children to provide plenty of positive attention.
2. Stick to a daily routine
When circumstances are out of the ordinary, children will sometimes act differently. By sticking to a consistent daily routine, you’ll reduce the chances of that happening.
3. Set clear boundaries
Establish rules and ensure your child understands the rules. Set rules and ensure your child follow them at home. If your toddler is acting like a terrible two, it’s easier to discipline a child at home when you can take your time and be patient.
If you can get your child to be well-behaved at home, you’ll have an easier time getting them to do the same in outside situations.
4. Give your child choices.
Change a child’s behavior by suggesting an alternate activity. If your child is doing something you don’t want them to do, suggest an activity that’s more acceptable. If the child complies with your suggestion, you’ll have corrected the behavior without anyone getting upset.
If you let your child choose between two or three different activities, she likely to behave and not act like a terrible two. Providing several choices increases the chances of you suggesting something that they would want to do.
Letting your kids make the decision, rather than just being told what to do, gives them a sense of power.
5. Avoid making empty threats.
If you threaten punishment, you need to be prepared to follow through with it.
If you fail to follow through with a threat, your child will learn how to take control of the situation. They’ll learn to patiently wait for you to cave in, so they can get what they want.
When you follow through with your punishments, your child will learn that there are consequences for failing to follow the rules.
6. Discipline immediately
Whenever possible, be sure the consequences happen immediately.
Avoid waiting until you get home, two hours later, to give a toddler a timeout. They’ll think they got away with bad behavior earlier, and they won’t understand why they’re being punished later. Ensure that your consequences are age-appropriate.
A general rule of thumb is to give a toddler a timeout that lasts for 1 minute for each year of their age. For example, a three-year-old can handle a 3 minute timeout and a five-year-old can handle one that lasts 5 minutes.
7. Praise positive behavior.
When parents have unruly children they often focus on punishments and consequences. By praising or rewarding good behavior, you’ll be giving your child the attention they desire while also reinforcing good behavior.
8. Stay Calm
If your child is starting to get out of control, stay calm and remember these tips. Getting frustrated or angry will only make things worse for both you and your child.
On the other hand, staying calm and using these strategies will most likely result in your child learning to behave and cooperate with you. In the end, everyone will be happier.
When Does The Terrible Twos End?
Toddlers are trying to master the world and when they aren’t able to accomplish a task, they often use one of the only tools at their disposal for venting frustration – a tantrum.
There are several basic causes of tantrums that are familiar to parents everywhere: The child is seeking attention or is tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. In addition, tantrums are often the result of children’s frustration with the world. Frustration is an unavoidable part of kids’ lives as they learn how people, objects, and their own bodies work.
Tantrums are common during the second year of life, a time when children are acquiring language. Toddlers generally understand more than they can express. As language skills improve, tantrums tend to decrease.
