Terrible twos isn’t an empty idiom. In fact, it’s one of those phrases that have perfectly encapsulated the experience of any caregiver, parent or teacher. As toddlers develop at a fast pace, their curiosity ramps up and they suddenly become these curious mad scientists who are bent on finding the limits of their newfound freedom, skills and abilities. While most caregivers can only wish for the obedient babies they once were, toddlers need to undergo these seemingly defiant and destructive phases but in reality it is just a developmental phase that lets them get a better understanding of their rapid development.

Dumping toys all over the place

Do toddlers seem to be in a dumping mode, throwing toys carelessly all over the place?
Instead of being irritated by all the mess they seem to spread, join in the fun and treat it as a physical exercise.
Let them throw all toys out of the bins and once they’re done, put wipes into their hands.
This will turn it into a fine motor activity by asking them to help you clean the toy bins.
After wiping is done, even haphazardly, ask for their help dumping all the toys back into the bin.
Not only would you have let them expend toddler energy into training both their gross and fine motor skills, you also have cleaned both the bins and toys scattered all over.
Isn’t that now a win-win for everyone?

Climbing and conquering all over tables and chairs

No problemo! So long as the kids won’t hurt themselves, say yes to it.
Instead of giving in to the urge of preventing them from doing so, ask them to help you assemble an obstacle course and let them run through the obstacle course for as long as they want.

Kicking, pushing or pulling at their friend

Redirect toddlers and their crazy energy towards objects which can absorb their energy while gently reminding them their friend may feel hurt by their actions.
This way, the overstimulated toddler is given an avenue to decompress and release their negative emotions.
This can also be a teachable moment for a parent or caregiver to let the toddler know how to express their feelings without resorting to aggressively behaving towards their friend.

A screaming chorus of toddlers

Young children are known to be loud. A toddler or two talking at the top of their voices might seem manageable but a group of toddlers simultaneously screaming at each other, you, no one and everyone might just seem too much, even for the most patient and zen person.
Instead of screaming at your toddlers, try screaming with them.
Instead of asking them to quiet down, which might be too far away from their ability for self-regulation yet, challenge them to see who can scream the loudest and longest of the bunch.
Open windows and doors and let them exhaust their lungs out and you’ll see they will quiet down soon enough.
Helping toddlers expend their excess energy results for a much calmer, smoother rest of the day.

While your toddlers may seem they have endless energy, giving in to their excessive displays and letting them exhaust themselves sometimes is the way to calm them down. By turning what seems to be terrible toddler antics into fanciful free play, you’re helping them develop their newfound skills. And by simply going with the flow, you’re doing yourself a favor extending the thread of your patience and securing a smoother rest of the day!