If you have a little one of your own, you’re probably realising that parenting changes as your child ages. Parenting a newborn is a very different experience from raising a toddler, kid, tween, teen and beyond. One of the most challenging periods of parenting for most parents? The terrible twos. The “terrible twos” is a term to cover the period of a child’s life that occurs when they are roughly two. This is a time when children’s moods and behaviours change pretty quickly and unexpectedly, making dealing with your little one a little harder. But not to worry. This stage doesn’t last forever and there’s still plenty of joy to be found in it. Here are some things you can do to help your little one with their development during this time.
Know What to Expect
Being prepared often helps you to negotiate difficult elements of parenting a toddler. So, it’s good to know what to expect. Not every child is the same and some kids may skip this stage almost entirely, while others may be particularly difficult. Often, around the age of two, you may have to deal with public tantrums, pickiness, defiance and more. Take some time to read about other parents’ experiences during this time and you’ll quickly find that you are far from alone. This is a normal stage of development and doesn’t reflect your skills as a parent at all.
Setting Boundaries and Discipline
Letting your kid know what is right and what is wrong, what is okay and what is not acceptable, is important. Discipline can guide their actions and help them to adhere to more societal norms. However, you do need to go about this the right way. You need to ensure that your discipline is healthy and not damaging or traumatising in any way. You also need to make sure that you are providing your child with balance. “Perfect” behaviour isn’t the aim. You need to still let your child act like a child and enjoy themselves. Balance is key.
Providing Individual Space
You should make sure that your child has a space to call their own during this time. Somewhere they can play, rest and call their own. It should also be somewhere that they can retreat to if they want privacy, a break or to spend some time to themselves. This space is often their bedroom. Take some time to make sure that it is upgraded from a nursery and meets all of their needs. From a fun colour scheme to toddler beds, give the space a revamp and ensure your little one is comfortable in it.
Seek Support
Of course, you need to make sure that you’re feeling well supported during this time too. Parenting is an exhausting journey and the terrible twos can prove even more tiring. Make sure that you have a good support network around you who you can reach out to if you need. This could be friends, family, other parents or even professionals if you are truly concerned about your child’s behaviour.
Each step above will help you to navigate your way through your little one’s development from the age of two and beyond!
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