Terrible twos preview

You've been warned about the "terrible twos," but you may be unprepared for this rite of passage if your child has been cooperative up until now. The stage doesn't always begin exactly on your child's second birthday. Development experts say it can strike as early as 18 months and as late as 30 months (though some angelic children never go through this phase). How do you know if you're in the midst of the TTs? Look for new signs of assertiveness from your toddler. Hallmark behaviors to watch for: He may insist on doing exactly what you've told him not to do or throw himself down on the floor in a fit of temper if he doesn't get his way. His demands may alternately frustrate and amuse you. At times, for example, he'll likely ask for something that he doesn't even want, just to see if he has enough power to get it.


What you can do

Though you may be tempted to cry and throw yourself on the floor, too, the best thing to do during a temper episode is keep your cool, stay close to your child, and let him release his feelings. A hug and a shoulder to cry on may be all that some toddlers need to feel better, while others may benefit from the distraction technique — offer him another activity or toy.

If you're in a public place or at someone's house, pick up your child and take him someplace where the two of you can sit calmly until the feelings subside. Save the time-outs until he's old enough to understand and follow rules, sometime between ages 2 and 3.

Baybe: Seun! we need an 'ignore' button on Nairaland o

Efemena_xy:

You deal with the 'disturbance' by distracting them.

Give them something that captures their attention and engrosses them. That'll help take their minds off creating a 'disturbance'. Play with them. Talk with them (not at them). Give them toys - for a two year old, a mobile car, something with colours, etc. Lift the child in your arms and swing him around. Throw him up in the air playfully and catch him (don't let him fall!)

Jeez, the list is endless. You were once a child! How hard is it to look after a two year old?

And for the record, I disagree with you. I do not find children annoying. I try to understand them and get in tune with their needs. I understand when a child is bored, grumpy, sleepy, tired, hungry or even not well. Children cry for a reason, you know. Not just for the fun of it.

booqee: you're taking things too far! Shuoo!

i can't think failure, infact i can't comprehend failure! Because GREATER is HE dat is in me..not failure!

hisblud: i like your signature-

Buoyantic: some children cry for fun...

tatiana009:

Lol, actually some people's mental state should be evaluated. I don't understand the reason for her rantings or is she having a nervous breakdown? Later same person will be claiming born again after all the cursing and insults! Even if we disagree with someone there are civilised ways of addressing issues. @ Op, well done for ignoring the rantings of what's obviously a very sick woman.

The best I could do was ignore her cus I don't even know what she was talking about. I don't know where I'd start replying her from. She said I beat someone'e baby. I wonder where I said that. Seriously, how can I even beat someone's 2 year old baby? In public for that matter. The mother would just cut off my head .

Her last post made lotta sense. That's what she could've posted since so other mothers could learn instead of ranting.

Happy sunday ma'am.

Buoyantic: some children cry for fun...

FBS: Folks, I don't know @tpia but I think what she (albeit in her own way) is saying is this: You cannot open a thread saying you felt like spanking someone else's child (in this case a 2 year old) and real hard too. How is that your business? Why would you want to do that?

lalaboi:
I am sure most mothers wont allow it, how dare you touch her kid . .

if its my kid, then i have no problem spanking him/her when being naughty

FBS:
Thats not even the issue. Will the mothers allow it or not. Issue is, why would you want to spank a 2 year old kid real hard? A kid who does not belong to you. Na serious wahala you dey look for be that.

Believe me man, spanking (a 2 year old) will NOT solve the problem. It will only make it worse. Try it and see.

lalaboi:

I get the issue, it is only an intent but not an actual happening. I am sure a lot of people think of doing something in a "saint" state just because they are pissed but end up not doing it as they are not that type of person! Just cos the OP mentioned that she wanted to spank the kid didnt mean she would have.

lalaboi:

I get the issue, it is only an intent but not an actual happening. I am sure a lot of people think of doing something in a "saint" state just because they are pissed but end up not doing it as they are not that type of person! Just cos the OP mentioned that she wanted to spank the kid didnt mean she would have.

Efemena_xy:

And yet another poster asking how to 'deal' with someone - this time, a child

@OP, you do not 'deal' with toddlers! That child is still a baby and is simply going through a phase of asserting himself. It's called the 'terrible two's'. Google it up. He'll grow out of it. What the mother ought to have done was to provide the child with a distraction. Focusing on his naughtiness is simply playing into his hands of attention seeking, albeit negative attention.

It is well with our kids.

Baybe: I saw one at the bank yesterday. The child should be about 2 years old. He refused to be carried by the mum preferring to seat on the floor blocking people's way. If the mum tried to carry him, he started to cry. I felt like spanking him real hard . I pitied for the mother shaa, see disturbance .

warrior101:


English please

She wrote in English

doofanc: terrible two ko horrible three ni. i simply would spank d living daylights out of d child.

our parents did it and that was how many of us turned out ro be the responsible adukts dat we are.

Efemena_xy: ^^ So I was right all along!

Thanks for sharing tpia@

Who was arguing with you before? ..SMH

Ayatullah:

Such tantrum from a child of about two years outside the home could be blamed on the parents. It is a manifest evidence of how the child has been brought up. Children will generally be shy outside the home if they have very good home training with discipline at home. A child refusing to be carried and blocking the road in a banking hall is a potential 'Agbero'. Such behavior if exhibited at home will not be a danger signal, because that will be understandable as the child is in his territory, where he is very free and could 'rebel' once in a while, because that is the home front where the child is in charge. Therefore, to deal with such a child takes the parents a review of their own effort at properly bringing up such a child.

Ayatullah:

Such tantrum from a child of about two years outside the home could be blamed on the parents. It is a manifest evidence of how the child has been brought up. Children will generally be shy outside the home if they have very good home training with discipline at home. A child refusing to be carried and blocking the road in a banking hall is a potential 'Agbero'. Such behavior if exhibited at home will not be a danger signal, because that will be understandable as the child is in his territory, where he is very free and could 'rebel' once in a while, because that is the home front where the child is in charge. Therefore, to deal with such a child takes the parents a review of their own effort at properly bringing up such a child.