Terrible Twos

The terrible twos may be a little misleading, as some toddlers begin to exert their independence when they are still only one, and of course, it may take till over the age of three until a toddler has learnt to manage his temper and frustrations when things don’t go his way. However, most parents have an image of what the term means - a two year old who is causing a lot of stress and probably not behaving the way his parents would like him to manage this difficult stage (and it usually is a stage and will pass!), make sure that you and anyone else looking after your child are in agreement with how you will manage the difficult behaviour.

Here are some tips that may help you:

If you are always saying no to your child, they will begin to ignore you as they will have no way to prioritise  in their own mind so be sure you choose your battles carefully.

Quite quickly you will be able to see what situations are likely to set your toddler off. You can then anticipate any potential issues and avoid them by distracting him/her and redirecting their attention.

This is imperative! Children at this age get confused by mixed messages. If you want your discipline to be effective, you must be consistent so they learn from their behavior.

Easier said than done but if you scream in anger at your toddler, the message you're trying to send will get lost and the situation will escalate.

It is impossible to reason with a child at this age if they are throwing a tantrum or are very upset so try and keep your explanation of what they did wrong and its consequences very short and sweet. This is the only way they will learn from their behaviour.

If you are giving out to your toddler over and over again for the same thing, a time out is often the most effective way to teach him/her a lesson in what they have done wrong.

Its normal to feel frustrated when correcting your child, especially if it is happening repeatedly but its also worth remembering, this is a normal aspect of parenting and growing up. Your child will learn as long as you are consistent in your approach and they will begin to understand the boundaries you have laid down. Correcting your child and showing them how you want them to behave is part and parcel of good parenting!