Toddlers -The ‘Terrible Twos’
Discussion
Anyone else have / had a nightmare toddler?
Mine is two and a half and he’s a nightmare. Just doesn’t give a s
t about anything, does almost nothing he’s told, constantly jumping on and off everything in sight (including me).
He’s still not speaking much, only the odd words so gets a bit frustrated. We have incident forms almost every day from his nursery for throwing things at other kids or biting.
His older sister was and is an absolute angel and never been any trouble at all but my son is a nightmare.
We’re in lockdown in Wales for the next 3 weekends and it’s chucked it down all weekend so we’ve been stuck in the house all day which has been a nightmare.
I’m hoping that this is just the terrible and two’s he’ll quieten down a bit, or at least listen a bit more, as he gets a bit older and can talk.
Please tell me it gets easier or if not make me feel better by telling how much of a nightmare your kids were at this age!
Mine is two and a half and he’s a nightmare. Just doesn’t give a s
t about anything, does almost nothing he’s told, constantly jumping on and off everything in sight (including me). He’s still not speaking much, only the odd words so gets a bit frustrated. We have incident forms almost every day from his nursery for throwing things at other kids or biting.
His older sister was and is an absolute angel and never been any trouble at all but my son is a nightmare.
We’re in lockdown in Wales for the next 3 weekends and it’s chucked it down all weekend so we’ve been stuck in the house all day which has been a nightmare.
I’m hoping that this is just the terrible and two’s he’ll quieten down a bit, or at least listen a bit more, as he gets a bit older and can talk.
Please tell me it gets easier or if not make me feel better by telling how much of a nightmare your kids were at this age!
No idea if this will help...
My youngest was a horror around the same age until we took all the sugar we possibly could out of his diet. It was hard at first to deny him any sweets and sugary drinks (bear in mind this was the early 70s), but it paid off. The effect was amazing and didn't take long - a couple of weeks as I recall.
We gave him all the fruit he wanted though.
Nowadays there is any amount of sugar free this and that available which didn't exist then, but I might be cautious about artificial sweeteners as I don't know enough about them.
I'm sure you're already careful about your kids' diet of course but it might be worth a try.
Good luck.
My youngest was a horror around the same age until we took all the sugar we possibly could out of his diet. It was hard at first to deny him any sweets and sugary drinks (bear in mind this was the early 70s), but it paid off. The effect was amazing and didn't take long - a couple of weeks as I recall.
We gave him all the fruit he wanted though.
Nowadays there is any amount of sugar free this and that available which didn't exist then, but I might be cautious about artificial sweeteners as I don't know enough about them.
I'm sure you're already careful about your kids' diet of course but it might be worth a try.
Good luck.
Hoink said:
Yep. This. Two was a breeze compared to three.
+1. Little boys have endless energy. There’s no point in fighting it, just go with the flow - head to toe waterproofs and wellies and go out and kick a ball, jump in puddles and run around. He’ll love it and you can use it to bribe/reward good behaviour another day. Yeah 2 was bad and 3 is even worse.
Your kid sounds like mine except mine only messes about at home, if he's out or at nursery he's perfectly well behaved.
We try not to give him chocolate or biscuits as that gets him even more hyper.
One thing we do though is put him down for a nap in the afternoon for a couple of hours, for some reason if he doesn't have a nap he gets even worse, once he's had a sleep he's a lot calmer.
Your kid sounds like mine except mine only messes about at home, if he's out or at nursery he's perfectly well behaved.
We try not to give him chocolate or biscuits as that gets him even more hyper.
One thing we do though is put him down for a nap in the afternoon for a couple of hours, for some reason if he doesn't have a nap he gets even worse, once he's had a sleep he's a lot calmer.
Agree on the sugar advice.
It always comes as a shock when the first born is so well behaved.
We went through this ourselves and now history is repeating itself with our grandchildren.
Firstborn an angel, the second is the complete opposite. You do have to be strong wild and not give in to their tantrums. Strict on tidy up time and being seated for meals. Loads of exercise where possible and rewards/praise for good behaviour.
It always comes as a shock when the first born is so well behaved.
We went through this ourselves and now history is repeating itself with our grandchildren.
Firstborn an angel, the second is the complete opposite. You do have to be strong wild and not give in to their tantrums. Strict on tidy up time and being seated for meals. Loads of exercise where possible and rewards/praise for good behaviour.
I feel you S2.
Although you're suffering the second child behaviour problems, at least he's not a girl.
Yes terrible twos are hard. But it just gets harder at 3, 4, 5. But 6 or 7 is the golden age where they are capable of understanding good attention is Vs negative attention. You must understand at two years old, any attention is a win. And it's not long before they suss out that bad behaviour gets them more attention, faster.
Our daughter has given us a dog's life from the age of 3 and still tries to now at 7. Although we have adapted to manage it better. Although at times it's been incredibly straining.
One thing I would say which sounds corny but it helped me understand parenting. I was having a moan to a friend who's very good at the parenting thing and saying how my son does this, does that, won't do this etc etc.. he just reminded me that he had only been alive for 3 years. He said you're 35 and you still behave poorly sometimes. Give him a chance... He was so right!
We expect too much from young children. And you won't look back at the battles with anything more than regret in few years.
Get them out. I found frisbee to be something that my kids seemed happy to work at and it's relatively good fun compared to watching frozen. It's not easy though.
Although you're suffering the second child behaviour problems, at least he's not a girl.
Yes terrible twos are hard. But it just gets harder at 3, 4, 5. But 6 or 7 is the golden age where they are capable of understanding good attention is Vs negative attention. You must understand at two years old, any attention is a win. And it's not long before they suss out that bad behaviour gets them more attention, faster.
Our daughter has given us a dog's life from the age of 3 and still tries to now at 7. Although we have adapted to manage it better. Although at times it's been incredibly straining.
One thing I would say which sounds corny but it helped me understand parenting. I was having a moan to a friend who's very good at the parenting thing and saying how my son does this, does that, won't do this etc etc.. he just reminded me that he had only been alive for 3 years. He said you're 35 and you still behave poorly sometimes. Give him a chance... He was so right!
We expect too much from young children. And you won't look back at the battles with anything more than regret in few years.
Get them out. I found frisbee to be something that my kids seemed happy to work at and it's relatively good fun compared to watching frozen. It's not easy though.
Agree with comments about sugar. Also rain is no reason to stay indoors, get some wellies and a decent coat (all in one waterproof thing for the kids) and go find some puddles 
I'll often let my kids go and get soaked and covered in mud at a local country park, other parents look on horrified, but the kids love it, I just stick a change of clothes in the car, warm bath and hot milk when we get in.
Have a read about negative attention seeking, kids crave any sort of attention and they work out that its quicker to misbehave and wind their parents up to get their attention than it is to sit quietly.
I'll often let my kids go and get soaked and covered in mud at a local country park, other parents look on horrified, but the kids love it, I just stick a change of clothes in the car, warm bath and hot milk when we get in.Have a read about negative attention seeking, kids crave any sort of attention and they work out that its quicker to misbehave and wind their parents up to get their attention than it is to sit quietly.
Ziplobb said:
Diet ? Sugar ? ?
This 100% you'll be amazed the difference a good diet makes to 'over active' kidsCalculate how much sugar he is having each day and be honest (not just added - all sugar) if its anywhere north of 15g - reduce it.
Its easy to have this amount just for breakfast.
Haha sounds same as my fam, older daughter was fine my 2 year old son was a terror
I just gave him lots of love, lots of fun and games and lots of boundaries, If I dont want him jumping on furniture, he knows about it and keep reinforcing it that he shouldn't.
They grow out of it , maybe ..hopefully
As above take him down park to tire him out, thats what I do
I just gave him lots of love, lots of fun and games and lots of boundaries, If I dont want him jumping on furniture, he knows about it and keep reinforcing it that he shouldn't.
They grow out of it , maybe ..hopefully
As above take him down park to tire him out, thats what I do
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