It’s the age that parents hear the most gruesome things about. It’s the era of tantrums and screaming and meltdowns. The terrible twos happen for every child (or for some, the terrible threes), but when you recognize the developmental changes happening for your child, it’s not hard to see why this can be a rough year.
That being said, there are countless amazing developments that 2- and 3-year-olds go through that shape them into who they are. With the right child care center, your young one can truly thrive. Yellow Brick Road is the place to make that happen! With care centers in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Maple Grove, you never have to travel far to provide the best in child care. Contact us to schedule a visit, and in the meantime, find some information on what to expect for 2- to 3-year-old development!
Overly Dramatic?
If you’re a parent of a 2-3 year old, your automatic answer will likely be “YES.” Every tiny little bump or scrape can send them wailing. However, a lot of this is due to brain development.
Toddlers are just starting to understand that their body parts belong to their self, but as one researcher has explained, “Toddlers make no distinction between the physical, mental, or emotional ‘me,’ so every little nick, real or imagined, is an insult to self.” When toddlers get a paper cut, they think it’s a direct hit to them as a person.
The Law of Conservation
How many times have you put ice cream in a bowl for your children, only to hear “they got more than me!”? The whining starts settling in, and you’re concentrating all your energy on not rolling your eyes. It might seem like drama or ingratitude, but it’s actually because your toddler’s understanding of conservation hasn’t set in yet.
Until they’re six or seven, your child can’t conceptualize that two differently shaped containers can hold the same amount of something. Their brain just isn’t ready for that yet, but with the proper encouragement and guidance (and lots of patience), they’ll get there! Until then, try using similarly sized containers whenever possible.
Ms. Independent
Much like the song, you’re probably used to (or expecting) your young one insisting on doing things their way. From getting dressed to buckling their seat belt, they’re determined to take matters into their own hands — even if it takes four times as long to get things done.
Try your best to let them do things on their own (as long as it’s safe for them to do so). Toddlers are just beginning to understand their autonomy and desperately want to try things by themselves. Allow for more time if possible, recognize that with practice, their independent actions will become more efficient, and offer encouragement!
Playing With Others… to an Extent
Two and 3-year-olds can finally start playing with children their age (a child care center like Yellow Brick Road is a great place for this to happen) — within reason. We say this because there are bound to be disagreements and tears at some point, and this, again, has everything to do with their brain.
Toddlers at this age think that everything revolves around them. This inherently makes it challenging to get along with others who also feel the same way! Around the age of three is when your young one will first start being able to cognitively empathize with someone, but getting practice in during their twos also makes a difference.
With Yellow Brick Road, your child can have tons of space and opportunity for practice as they navigate their twos and threes. From infant care to preschool and every year in between, we know that the path to their success is laid one Yellow Brick at a time. Set up a tour with one of our schools today!