Toddlers and Challenging Behavior: Why They Do It and How to Respond

Mildred

Reading — Intermediate Level
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Activity

Read the text and answer the questions


The year between age 2 and age 3 is an exciting one. Toddlers are realizing that they are separate individuals from their parents and caregivers. This means that they are driven to assert themselves, to communicate their likes and dislikes, and to act independently (as much as they can!). Toddlers are also developing the language skills that help them express their ideas, wants, and needs.

At the same time, toddlers do not understand logic and still have a hard time with waiting and self-control. In a nutshell: Two-year-olds want what they want when they want it. This is why you may be hearing things like “no” and “me do it” and “no diaper change!” more than ever before.

Learning to Handle Strong Feelings
As a parent, your job is to help your young toddler navigate the tide of strong emotions she is experiencing this year. This is no small task, because the emotional lives of 2-year-olds are complex. This year they are beginning to experience feelings like pride, shame, guilt, and embarrassment for the first time.

Older toddlers are a lot like teenagers. Their feelings may swing wildly from moment to moment. They may be joyful when getting a popsicle and then despair when it drips on their hands. So toddlers really need your loving guidance to figure out how to cope with their emotions.
  1. At what age in our life do we experience being a toddler?

  2. What do toddles want to experience?

  3. When toddlers want to develop their language skills, they want to   .

  4. Because toddlers do not understand logic yet, they have   .

  5. Who should guide the toddlers with their swings of emotions?

Discussion

Practice your writing skills by discussing the questions below

  1. Do you still remember when you were young? What are the things do you remember?

  2. Do you think it is very important for parents to guide their children during these ages - 2 and 3? Why?

  3. For those who have children, what are your experiences with your children when they were toddlers?

    Mildred

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