Baby Development Stage for Ages Twenty-four to Thirty-six Months
From LoveToKnow Baby
Now that your child is a two-year-old, you may begin to understand what the term "terrible twos" actually means. The more she wants to exert her independence, the more you have to exert your authority. It may seem as if you are constantly butting heads with each other, and your toddler may be yelling "no" as often as you are! Keep in mind that this is normal behavior for a two-year-old, however, and she is just reaching another one of the many development stages she will continue to hurdle pass. In this instance, her budding independence is most likely the main issue. While you will of course rejoice over her ever-increasing maturity, you may also find yourself reminiscing over those long ago days when everything you said and did was simply perfect in your baby's eyes.
Independence
The main reason for the difficulty associated with the "terrible twos" is the fact that your toddler is learning to make decisions for himself. Many of these decisions will not be your choice, and therein lies the problem.
While you are trying to set limits, he is trying to run right past them. As you continue your battle over who is in charge, you may both end up more than a little frustrated. Because of this, you may find that by offering your baby simple choices on a daily basis, his frustration may dissipate, at least somewhat.
If he truly insists on dressing himself in the morning, you don't have to totally give in to the striped sweater with the plaid shorts. Instead, pull out several outfits and let him choose the one he prefers.
Mealtime may also prove to be difficult for all parties involved. You should not try to force your baby to eat certain foods. Instead, offer her several different foods, and don't make a big deal out of her refusal to eat others. The bigger fuss you make over it, the more power she'll think she has over you.
Dependence
Just when you think that your baby doesn't need you any more, he'll crawl into your lap, lay his head against your chest, and give a huge sigh of satisfaction. You are still his security blanket. He really doesn't want to be totally independent. In fact, too much independence is scary to him. He still looks to you for guidance, security, and love. Be sure you provide plenty of all of that.
Social Interaction
Your little one is also becoming increasingly interested in playing with other children. However, she may be hesitant and unsure about how to make new friends. You can help her adjust to new playmates by giving her opportunities to meet other children. If she doesn't go to daycare or preschool, you can still find plenty of places to let her interact with children her own age.
If you attend a church, you might want to inquire about the Bible classes that your congregation offers. Don't be surprised if your baby wants you to stay with her, though. You can stay with her the first few visits until she becomes more familiar with her teacher and the other children.
You could also schedule play dates with other children of parents with whom you are acquainted. If your baby is hesitant about playing with the others, try to sit down with the other children and help your child become involved in group play with you at her side. Eventually, she'll get so caught up in what she is doing that she'll forget how bashful she was.
Intellectual Development
You should continue to offer your child plenty of age appropriate books, videos, and toys to stimulate her intellectual development. Two-year-olds love to sing songs, dance, and play simple games. Some of their favorite activities involve inexpensive, yet classic items, such as bubbles, crayons, coloring books, and puzzles. Keep plenty of these on hand for your little one to enjoy.
Finally, as your child approaches her third birthday, you can literally see her growing and maturing by leaps and bounds. Don't forget though that she still needs you by her side to reassure her. Continue to provide plenty of hugs and kisses as you watch her reach for each new development stage along the way.
Related Baby Links
Baby Development Stage for the First Six Months
Baby Development Stage for Ages Seven Through Twelve Months
Baby Development Stage for Ages Twelve to Twenty-four Months
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