Growing Up With Optimism: The Life Of A Two-Year-Old

December 20, 2021

 The life of a two-year-old is full of excitement and joy. They are starting to learn how the world works and what they can do in it, all while still being so innocent and sweet. It's an amazing time for parents because you get to watch your children grow up and see them start to develop their personalities. To help you understand more about this wonderful age, here are some things that typically happen during the first two years.

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Learn How To Communicate 

Two-year-olds are learning how to talk and communicate with others. They will start to string together words into sentences, and by the end of this age, they should be able to have a basic conversation. This is also a fun age as language skills explode with new words learned on a daily basis.


Independent And Dependent 

Two-year-olds are becoming more independent. This means that they want to do things for themselves and don't always want help from mom or dad. It can be frustrating for parents when their child is constantly testing boundaries, but it's all part of the process. This can be a great time for parents as they watch their child grow and learn. From the perspective of parents, they are an interesting combination of independence and dependence. They can get into just about anything that does not have a safety latch on it but cannot cross streets alone or walk upstairs without help from mom or dad.


Learning Wrong And Right 

Two-year-olds are starting to learn about right and wrong. They might not understand everything yet, but they know that there are some things that aren't allowed and some things that are encouraged. As parents, it's important to set good examples for your child.


Learn Through Play

Two-year-olds are also starting to learn how the world works through play and exploration. They might try touching a hot pan on the stove or putting something they aren't supposed to in their mouths, for example. It's crucial as parents that you teach them about safety rules and boundaries so that they can grow up safely. The best is by learning activities for two-year-olds that will keep them engaged, curious and develop their motor skills. Toddlers at this stage are continuing to learn new things every day so make sure reading material and educational toys are available to them.

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Develop Social Skills 

Two-year-olds love to play with others their age because it allows them to develop social skills such as sharing toys and communicating with peers. If you're looking for ways of introducing your child into group settings at this young age, then joining a community center is always an option since there will be other kids around too. This gives children some great ways to make friends early on in life.


Supervised Curiosity 

A two-year-old is typically very curious and loves to explore. They are also extremely active, often coming up with new things for them to do all the time. Two-year-olds need close supervision because they enjoy climbing on anything that will hold their weight. It is important not to underestimate how much of an impact this age can have in a home or other setting where children are around the same age group. A child care center would be especially aware of these needs when dealing with toddlers who may climb onto countertops, dressers, tables, etc. Which could lead to injuries if precautions aren't taken beforehand, including putting away breakable items like glassware and fragile decorations while kids are napping or occupied elsewhere in the house/facility.


Developing Their Personality

Two-year-olds are also beginning to develop their own personalities and preferences. It's important to continue fostering a positive relationship with your toddler during this time. Making sure they know that you're always there for them will help them feel secure and loved. As they get older, this foundation of trust will only continue to strengthen.


Healthy Nature Exploring 

A two-year-old is a very busy toddler! They are usually very excited about life, learning new things, and seeing what they can get away with. During this time of their lives, it is important to grow up healthy in general so that you have the best chance at being happy as an adult. Two-year-olds love playing outside in most places but will stay inside when the weather isn't good enough for them to be out there all day long. At least once or twice a week, playtime should involve getting some fresh air, even if just for walks around the block along with snacks. 

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Munchies 

Two-year-olds are always thinking about food because growth spurts happen during these years, which means they need lots of nutrients from various sources like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat proteins, and dairy. 


Affirm Love Always

Although they may not be able to verbalize it yet, make sure that your child knows how much you love them by giving lots of hugs and kisses every day. Make sure that your toddler knows what you expect from them behaviorally and continue setting limits while praising them when they follow instructions correctly.


Busy Bodies Needs Lots Of Rest

Even though two-year-olds are constantly on the go, they still need plenty of rest, so always try to put them down for a nap or bedtime story routine each night.

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Potty Training In Progress

Two-year-olds are typically potty trained though this timeline varies greatly from child to child, and some parents opt to wait until closer to three years old. 


Empathy Development 

Around this time, toddlers also start learning how they fit into the greater world around them and develop empathy for others. They begin to understand that other people may have different thoughts or feelings from their own and can be swayed by gentle reasoning.


Terrible Two-Phase

A child going through the terrible two phase may seem like a living nightmare. At the same time, it's easy to see why this developmental phase is actually very beneficial for kids and helps them develop important life skills. Parents can learn more about what to expect from this stage that typically begins around 18-months old and lasts until age three. One of the biggest things that are different about a two-year-old is their emotions. They have not yet developed emotional control, so they will often throw tantrums when something does not go right for them. However, while some may see this as negative behavior, it can actually be seen in a positive light because children at this age are highly hopeful and innately optimistic thinkers. The terrible two-phase is one of the most misunderstood phases in all of psychology. It's also an interesting topic that has been studied for over 50 years. By understanding why your child behaves like this, it makes parenting much easier since there are steps you can take to help them. As your child starts to develop a sense of independence, they will also begin testing their boundaries. This is a normal part of the development and should be expected during the terrible two-phase. However, it's important that you set limits for them and enforce them consistently while still providing positive reinforcement when they do behave well.

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In short, two-year-olds are busy little humans working hard towards becoming independent members of society. There's always something new to learn and plenty of exploration (and mischief) still ahead. Milestones reached during these years set the foundation for future skills and life lessons to be learned. So as you can see, the life of a two-year-old is full of learning and growing. It's an exciting time for both parents and children, so make sure to enjoy it!

 


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