Turn the Terrible Twos into Something Terrific

Eight tips for maintaining your sanity with a toddler

Terrible Twos

• Remember that the world is still new and challenging to your child. Be patient with her and watch how she manipulates through her day–you will be rewarded with glimpses of her ingenuity and creativity.
• Understand your toddler's challenges and frustrations so you can learn to avoid some of them. If a new task is stressing her out, let her try something she's already mastered to help boost her confidence.
• Avoiding "stimulation overload" will help keep toddler tantrums at bay.
• Toddlers learn through their curiosity–encourage your child's exploration of the world in safe ways and take the time to answer all her questions as you share in her new discoveries.

ou're no longer operating in a totally sleep-deprived state and rarely have spit up on your clothes, but now your child is beginning to voice her concerns, needs and wants with actual words–and sometimes more forcefully than others. Occasionally, you find yourself wishing she came equipped with a "pause" button.

    Not to worry–all parents find themselves in the same position: loving most of it and wondering, at times, what they've gotten themselves into. Here are eight tips to help see you through those tricky days of toddlerdom:

1. It's important to slow down and really watch your child–and be in awe of all she is learning and experiencing. Her days as a toddler will go fast, so let her re-introduce you to the world of childhood, filled with wonder and awe.

2. Respect your child's individuality. Watch how she copes and manipulates through a day. Remember that it's all still new and challenging to her–be patient and you will be rewarded with glimpses of her ingenuity and creativity.

3. Appreciate your child's moods and her efforts to interact with the world around her. Understand her challenges and frustrations so that you can learn how to avoid some of them. If she gets upset when she can't complete a task, distract her with something she's already mastered.

4. Watch for your child's signals that she is hungry, lonely, tired, frustrated or needs to be changed–and try to avoid those times by anticipating them in advance, then circumventing them with fewer errands, healthy snacks and respecting nap time as necessary for her to rejuvenate herself. You'll find yourself facing fewer toddler tantrums as a result.

5. Avoid "stimulation overload." When you do too much in a day or expose her to a lot of visual and/or auditory stimulation, your child has to let out the extra stimuli in the form of a tantrum, screaming or other behaviors. When this happens, it's a sign you may have pushed her a bit too far and she needs a quiet break.

6. Toddlers are incredibly curious. They are led by their curiosity and it's the way they learn. Be careful not to squelch that curiosity–instead, encourage her explorations in safe ways and marvel at the way her mind works.

7. Focus on your child. Take time to answer all her inquiries and questions so you can share your knowledge and insights about the world with her.

8. Respectfully parent your child. Respect involves listening to, considering, liking, enjoying and being in a mutual, interactive relationship with her. She will learn to respect you in turn.