As difficult as the Terrible Twos are for you, they’re even more frustrating for your toddler. A toddler can’t articulate what he really needs, but if he could, he would say:
“Mom, Dad, I know you guys are really stressed right now. You’re frustrated and feel that nothing you try is working to end my terrible twos. I know you’re overwhelmed and you really don’t want to yell at me all the time. You probably even wonder who stole your ‘little bundle of joy’. But, I’m trying let you know what I really need – but you’re not ‘getting it’! I’m trying to tell you that although I’m just a toddler, I need some power of my own. I’m starting to grow up and I need to do some things for myself. You do everything for me and make every decision for me. I’m not a baby anymore.
Since I’m only a toddler and can’t quite put all of this into words, all I can do is whine, refuse to cooperate, act helpless and have tantrums and meltdowns. I’ve figured out that I can really get your attention when we’re in public. But none of my efforts are working. You just think I’m going through the ‘Terrible Twos’. I get extremely frustrated so I do my “terrible twos” antics louder and more often just hoping you’ll get the picture. I know I’m only a toddler, but I need my own power. I need to feel independent and I need to make some of my own decisions.
I wish you would figure this out so I can stop this toddler behavior!”
Children don’t misbehave just to misbehave. They act out because they want something. They are probably receiving tons of attention from you but they need more. Yes, believe it or not, they need power. It’s hard to understand that a toddler needs power…but they do. It’s part of the maturation process.
Positive Parenting Solutions will teach you why children misbehave, how you may be unknowingly making the misbehaviors worse and what you can do to bring the terrible twos to an end. You don’t have to “wait it out”.
Click here to learn more.
Amy McCready is a highly sought-after parenting coach, speaker, consultant and author of “If I Have To Tell You One More Time…The Revolutionary Program To Get Kids To Listen Without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling”. After taking time off from her career to raise her two sons (now ages 13 and 16), she founded Positive Parenting Solutions in 2004 to help educate parents on how to effectively communicate and connect with their children. Through her online parenting courses, live webinars and speaking engagements, Amy has gained widespread attention and has been called upon as an expert by numerous media outlets, including NBC’s TODAY Show, The New York Times, The Rachael Ray Show, Fox & Friends and MSNBC.
