One moment everything seems to be in order, the next they're crying for attention or throwing tantrum for any other thing that would disrupt the peaceful atmosphere, the most embarrassing part is the public tantrum.
It's the "terrible two" stage and it is called terrible for a particular reason which isn't far-fetched; toddlers are usually terrible to manage at this particular stage of life because they find pleasure in saying "No" all the time.
For first time parents, it's usually very frustrating, because toddlers throw tantrum without a clear-cut way of pacifying them. At this stage, it is important to reconcile with the fact that, such behavior is expected of them as they transition from being babies to toddlers, they begin to learn how to make independent choices, more often than not, their strive for independence would not sit well with you as the parent, and it is usually very difficult to explain to why they can't have or do something to them.
Being mentally prepared will go a long way in getting through this developmental stage of their life. Here are some parent tips to keep in mind as your baby grows into that "terrible" tantrum age.
Age Factor: They're gradually growing from being babies to toddlers, this transition factor is important in guiding your conversations with them. You should not talk to them as if they're older than they are. Explaining things to them wouldn't make much difference, because they won't see a reason behind your explanation as long as it does not favor them. This goes both ways; treating them like a baby would make them revolt as well. They want to be fully involved in the decisions that involve them.
Take for instance their choice of food or outfit. Instead of saying, "you're wearing the blue dress", a better approach is to present three different choices and make them choose from the options presented. That way they feel involved in the process of making decisions.
Let Them Cry It Out: This might sound mean, but it's a valuable tip for parents. When you're outdoors, you might be worried about making a scene when your child decides to act up, in cases like this, you should do your best to pacify them or excuse yourself so as not to affect others. But when you're indoors, and they start to act up as expected, you should try as much as possible to make sure they understand that crying won't make you change your mind. Make sure they work through the tantrum while you remain as calm as possible.
Keep Them Engaged: Kids love being distracted, and the good thing about this is that, it does not take much to get them distracted. When they're bored, they make ridiculous demands. Rather than waiting for them to get bored, ensure they're engaged in one form of activity, like kids toy microphone.
In conclusion, it is important to note that they will not remain in this stage for the rest of their life, they will eventually outgrow it as they learn the basics of effective communication as against crying and throwing tantrum to make their grievances known.
As a parent, it is important that you learn to be consistent in your decision making, let your yes be yes and the no remain no. While there are no fast rules for managing the terrible two, the mental preparation and the tips explained in this article will go a long way in giving you a head start.
Great advice. One of the things I've discovered, now that my kiddos are (THANKFULLY) past this stage, is that it is beneficial to let them feel their emotions and offer support in the form of hugs and helping them identify their emotions, age appropriately of course.
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