10 Tips For Parenting Your Two-Year-Old Toddler

Children are life’s greatest treasures. Having a child of your own is a matter of joy and responsibility. But there is no course you can take, which will ensure that you will become a good parent. It is more of a learn-as-you-go process. Every child is different and special in his/her own way. The rules you applied to one child may not help you with another. If you are parenting a 2 year old, the rules of today may not apply tomorrow.

When your child hits the 2 year mark, it can be both a terrible and a terrific time for you. This is the time when curiosity emerges in a child. They start to learn many things like languages, motor control and hand-eye coordination. This is a time when they want to explore and do whatever they feel interested in.

BAD PARENTING SKILLS PARENTS SHOULD AVOID

You always need to be alert and you must learn to expect the unexpected from your toddler. You need to be prepared when he throws his favourite toy truck of yesterday across the room today. Here are a few tips for parenting a 2 year old.

Patience

Patience

While parenting a 2 year old, the main skill you must acquire is patience. You cannot control the behaviour of the curious toddler. What you can control is your behaviour. Patience is a virtue you must practise.

Keep them occupied

Keep them occupied

The thing to keep in mind while parenting a 2 year old is that they like to be kept busy. Toddlers have unceasing energy and if they are kept idle, they end up doing mischief. So keep them occupied with books or toys.

“I do it!”

“I do it!”

This is a phrase often heard from toddlers. Here's another tip for parenting a 2 year old toddler, especially when they are at an age when they want to do everything themselves. Allow them to do simple tasks, but remember to allot extra time for this activity.

A little messy

A little messy

While parenting a 2 year old, it is impossible to keep them neat and tidy. Allow them to get a little messy and play in the dirt. You can join them and later make the cleanup also fun.

Picky eaters

Picky eaters

When your child becomes 2 years old, he will have started on a solid diet. This is also when he becomes a picky eater. The trick to parenting a 2 year old is to not force him to eat, but to give him a variety to choose from.

Tantrum time

Tantrum time

The going gets tough and parenting 2 years old kids get tough when the tantrums begin and do not end. Sometimes, you need to turn a deaf ear to the bawling and stay firm with your decision.

Read to your child

Read to your child

Parenting a 2 year old involves bonding with them. Read lots of books with big colourful pictures to them. It will develop their learning powers. Restrict the exposure to screen media.

Discipline

Discipline

It is a necessary part of parenting a 2 year old. It will be quite easy to teach discipline to a 2 year old rather than a 12 year old. Most of the time, they will listen to you and mimic your actions.

Rewards

Rewards

While parenting a 2 year old, give them rewards for doing something correctly or for good behaviour. This will induce them to repeat the good instead of resorting to tantrums.

Ensure safety

Ensure safety

Why is parenting 2 year old kids tough? It is because they easily duck under our vision and get into trouble and sometimes injuries. The safety of your robust toddler should always be your priority.

Story first published: Thursday, February 13, 2014, 13:03 [IST]
Read more about: toddlers parenting