Anybody who can share how to handle "Terrible Two" Stage?
By aejey322
@aejey322 (1004)
Philippines
October 8, 2012 3:13am CST
My baby is now 2 years and 3 months old. At an early stage, he already knows to speak well, he memorizes the alphabet and even can read them individually, he can count one to twenty and can also identify numbers 1-9, he knows the colors, he memorizes many nursery rhymes and ads jingles, he mingles with other kids and adults as well, and the top of the list - he knows how to decide on his own.
oh well, it makes us glad to see that he is somehow advanced compared to other 2-yr olds we know. It makes us proud that he is already smart at his age. And he is a very happy kid. He initiates approaching some other even older kids and says "Hi kuya (elder brother)" or "hi ate (elder sister)" or even "hi baby (if he sees a baby)". he also greets the adult ones by saying "hi tita (for a lady)" and "hi tito (for a gentleman)" even if he does not know them. He sometimes introduces himself "Hi I'm Kirby" and he is always with a smile when he is in a crowd. When we are attending childrens parties, it seems like it is his party. 
But when it comes to moods, extremes come in. He is also smart enough to use his cry to dominate us. he easily cries out even with just simple things that he's asking but were not granted to him. And even with trying to take him to a bath, when he says NO he really means NO or else he'll gonna cry out loud again. And also when it's time to change clothes... Or if in the supermarket for example, and wants to open a bottle of water. He doesn't listen when he's told to wait because we need to pay first. It is embarrassing when we are out in the public. He can really get the attention of the people. We noticed this started just a month ago. And I am interrelating this to what they call the "terrible two" I hope it is only that and hope he can surpass that stage... because I believe my son is not a bad boy...
Any parent out there who can share their experiences too and share how you handle this toddler stage?
But when it comes to moods, extremes come in. He is also smart enough to use his cry to dominate us. he easily cries out even with just simple things that he's asking but were not granted to him. And even with trying to take him to a bath, when he says NO he really means NO or else he'll gonna cry out loud again. And also when it's time to change clothes... Or if in the supermarket for example, and wants to open a bottle of water. He doesn't listen when he's told to wait because we need to pay first. It is embarrassing when we are out in the public. He can really get the attention of the people. We noticed this started just a month ago. And I am interrelating this to what they call the "terrible two" I hope it is only that and hope he can surpass that stage... because I believe my son is not a bad boy...
Any parent out there who can share their experiences too and share how you handle this toddler stage?6 responses
@ellyse2003 (1463)
• Philippines
8 Oct 12
You have an intelligent son, I'm a mom also and my little boy is now 5 years old. I'm glad I was able to handle all of his tantrums when he was smaller.
Well, this is what I do when my little guy says "I don't want to take a bathe mom!"
I create a little imagination or a story. I always tell him, why don't you come up with your pail and we'll hang out at the beach..or why don't you bring your favorite car and we'll wash it thoroughly. We just need to get into their small head once in a while for us to be able to control them without fighting over a small matter.
@aejey322 (1004)
• Philippines
8 Oct 12
I've done that. I tried to convince him to bring his favorite car so we can wash it or let it swim in the tub. Or tell him that we will go to a mall after he takes a bath. But sometimes, maybe he knows I'm just bribing him. he will still say NO. oh dear, it's a year full of NO's @ellyse2003 (1463)
• Philippines
8 Oct 12
Clever boy you have there! When I was having problems with my little boy's tantrums my pediatrician said, I should prepare a time schedule for the whole day for my child. From morning to evening, I decided to make a chart on what time he should take a bath and what time is play time and reading, and I only give him an hour of watching. My doctor also explained that if a child has a daily routine, he will gain self discipline in an early age. Which is very true, when I started with my child's daily routine after a few month he was able to follow it. Sometimes when I forget something, or was not able to do during the day because of my busy schedule, my son tells me or asks me...should we skip reading time? and mom, it's time for my vitamins.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
15 Oct 12
I honestly believe that the reason that children go through the terrible twos stage is because of the fact that they know what they want and when they want it, but there is a communication barrier because we adults are not always able to understand what the children want. So, this leads to the meltdowns that we so frequently see and experience.
The best thing that you can do to try to keep these tantrums to a minimum is to always remind our children that we can't understand their whining, but we would be able to understand them better if they would just use their words.
@FrugalMommy (1438)
• United States
15 Oct 12
That's exactly how I handle my daughter's outbursts when they happen. I tell her I'm sorry, but I can't understand what she's saying when she starts whining. It works most of the time. When it doesn't, I tell her that I'll be happy to help her with whatever she wants after she calms down. Then I leave the room. It doesn't take more than a couple minutes for her to calm down after that.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 12
I know the terrible two age range lasts from age two to aged three and a half years old. In a supermarket try to keep your son in his buggy or supermarket trolley. I would try to use other words instead of no because it will be pleasant if he learns some of them. It is lovely your two year old son is friendly and can speak a little. I think that it is best to show something lovely and say if you get your clothes on quickly you can play with this toy. In a supermarket take a list and try to keep to it. This age range is a challenge and time will move quite fast. Now my daughter is almost three and a half years old she is growing out of the terrible twos. Good luck.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
8 Oct 12
I amnot sure that I was good at handling this age of children. If my children misbehaved in public I just picked them up and took them away for quite time. Even if I left a full basket of food in the ready to check out in the store. If they did this at home they were put in a safe place until they settled down because there were three of them only one year apart they learned by watching what happened to each other. I did have one child that only through a fit when we left him with a babysitter. About the third time he did this the babysitter told us. So the next time we left him, we got in the car and drove around the block, then we returned to the house and found him in the middle of his act. I walked into the bathroom, got a full glass of water and throw it on him. That was the last time he did this.
Mainly I never allowed this behavior to be rewarded. I was a strict Mom, my children knew that I had only a few rules but those were very strong rules and if I said I would do something I did it. After a short time they knew if I told them to stop fighting in the car or I would stop and let them out on the side of the road, of course I would never do that but they were never quite sure. I never worried about how my children felt about me, I just wanted to keep them safe healthy and educated in a dangerous world. We had a lot of happy times and I think if you asked them they had good childhoods.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
13 Oct 12
Hi aejay! Make a way to draw his attention into other matters. Children can easily change mood if we were able to attract their attention on some other things.
@adrians (52)
• Philippines
8 Oct 12
A little spank on the butt and a little slap on the hands wont hurt. For me you are starting to spoil your child.. If he is that advance, he would know what it would mean why he was punished, or what would the outcome would be if he did something wrong. ^^ a spoiled child leads to much worst child ^^
