The “terrible twos”
Have you heard this term before? A toddler going through the terrible twos phase is trying to balance what they need: help from adults, and what they want: total independence. It is a normal stage of development for any child. A two year old is going through major changes in every area of development. The phase is about a child understanding and controlling their emotions so there can be a lot of confusion which turns into frustration. Terrible twos can mean tantrums, mood changes and the word “no”.
Not all children go through this in an extreme way. Every child is different, and we have learned that each child experiences development and grows in their own way. So this is not to say that the lives of all children between the ages of 2 and 4 are full of tantrums and mood swings.
When caring for a child going through the terrible twos, it’s important to remember two things: it’s a normal phase and it is not personal. Their frustration is not towards you. With time, you might also learn that the tantrums will stop when a child can express themselves verbally and feel their independence. Because of this, the end of the terrible twos can be closer to age 4 when a child’s motor and language skills are more developed.