If you have a two-year-old, you know that the time you’re going through is terrible. They really do know how to cause a scene, and dealing with one can be stressful. Although you might not like to admit it, we know that your children occasionally get under your skin. Sometimes you’re going to pull your hair out, and you might not know how to deal with their behavior at times. I’m not saying that this will happen to you, but some parents have such a difficult time with their two-year-olds, that they hire a behaviour specialist to try and find ways to control their young ones. I would hate to let you get that far, and wouldn’t want you to ever be so stressed that you would even consider this. So, here are some ways that you can power through the terrible twos with confidence, and come out the other side with a smile on your face. Read on to find out more.
Dealing With Tantrums
Tantrums are one of the worst things that you’ll have to deal with as a parent. Right from the minute they can begin showing their emotions in terms of anger and being upset, you’ll know about it. This will start long before the terrible twos begin, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to get any easier. As they get older, they get more stubborn, they learn how to manipulate you, and they seem to throw even more tantrums over things that really don’t need a tantrum. It’s usually when they don’t get their own way, and teaching them that they aren’t always going to get their own way is so important. To manage tantrums, focus on standing your ground, and showing them why their actions (or rather, reactions) are wrong. Don’t go for tactics such as time out, you want to help them learn to control themselves. We all face situations where we don’t get our way; our reaction to it is what is desirable or not. You need to try positive reinforcement, it is usually much more effective. You could try something like a sticker chart. Every time they’re being a bit temperamental and acting out, but they find a way to calm themselves down, they get a sticker. Once they collect enough stickers, they can get a little prize. Whether it be a small toy, a treat, or just a night where they get to pick their favorite film to watch.
Troublesome Bedtime Routines
Bedtime routines are the worst to try establish. You may have had a great sleeper but most children will have a time where they will exert their will in this area. Your child will want to do anything but go to bed when you want them too. There’s just too much excitement for them to deal with in the day, and the last thing that they would want to miss out on is something that you’re doing. However, we all know how important it is for children to get their sleep, and the effects it can have on them if they don’t can be bad. Their concentration could be affected, their learning, their ability to get along with others, or their energy level. The best sleep practices for kids are ones that involve a lot of relaxation and calm before bed. If your house is still chaotic around the time that you’re planning on taking them to bed, they’re only going to feed off that. Whether it be a dedicated movie time with all of the family before bed, or doing something like reading a story, it’s important if you want to get them in right frame of mind. You may have had a good routine before the rebellion. That doesn’t mean bedtime routines don’t work. It just means it’s time to make a new one. Once you begin, stick to it. It may take a week or a month to get a good bedtime routine established. But it will be so worth it.
Teaching Social Skills
There is one big area that your little one in the throes of the terrible twos will be honing – that is social skills. They are walking, talking somewhat, and can easily start to learn what it means to socialize with other people. The best thing that you can try to teach them is sharing and caring. Sharing is definitely something that young children find hard to grasp. In part, because most of the time, what’s theirs is theirs! However, if you can put in the effort to show them what’s needed to make friends from a young age, they’ll get on so much better in their lives as adults. It can easily be taught around the home, especially if you have other children involved. If you notice that there’s a lot of hostility when a toy is being taken away for example, you have a teaching moment. You can use it as your chance to show the importance of sharing. Show the emotions that might be involved with sharing, and point out that they would be really upset if someone didn’t share with them. It’s a cycle that you’ll have to go through, repeatedly. Eventually, as they grow, they’ll become such sweet people!