The year between age 2 and age 3 is an exciting one. Toddlers are realizing that they are separate individuals from their parents and caregivers. This means that they are driven to assert themselves, to communicate their likes and dislikes, and to act independently as much as they can. Toddlers are also developing the language skills that help them express their ideas, wants, and needs,this is the most important age for emotional development.
At the same time, toddlers do not understand logic and still have a hard time dealing with waiting and self-control. In a nutshell, two-year-olds want what they want when they want it. This is why you may be hearing things like no and me do it and "no diaper change!" more than ever before.
Such is the case of a 3-year-old boy in Cincinnati who climbed over the railings of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden days ago. The boy was hospitalized with serious injuries and a gorilla was shot dead after officials said the boy climbed through a railing and fell into a moat at the Cincinnati Zoo's gorilla enclosure as reported in CNN news.
Battle your 3year-old over every bad behavior and you'll be at war all day. Instead, list the top few behaviors that really bother you that you deem are dangerous, uncivil, or annoying. For those that are outright forbidden like riding a tricycle in the street or leaving the house without an adult, you have to set clear, specific rules and logical consequences. Biting back, for example, is not a logical consequence for a child who bites because it simply teaches that the bigger person gets to bite. A reminder of why it's not nice to bite and a brief timeout in a boring place make more sense. Always follow through on whatever discipline you decide on. Lack of consistency confuses kids and promotes rebellion.
As a parent, your job is to help your young toddler navigate the tide of strong emotions that he or she is experiencing. This is no small task, because the emotional lives of 2-year-olds are complex. At this age they are beginning to experience feelings like pride, shame, guilt, and embarrassment for the first time.
Older toddlers are a lot like teenagers. Their feelings may swing wildly from moment to moment. They may be joyful when getting a Popsicle and then despair when it drips on their hands. So toddlers really need your loving guidance to figure out how to cope with their emotions.
