Raising a child at 2 years old is a difficult stage in the life of parents. In the old days they said: “You need to educate while walking under the table.” The main attention at this time should be paid to the development of the child’s aesthetic and moral principles, speech, and movement. Also, one cannot leave aside feelings and emotions, cultural and hygienic skills, full physiological development, strengthening health and immunity.
Increased activity
The acquired skills give children a new degree of freedom. In this sense, the ability to walk gives the baby a lot of new opportunities. He really likes to walk and run. Independent and fast movement allows the baby to explore new objects and learn their properties. He learns to navigate in space and coordinate his actions. Constantly falling, the baby gradually learns to avoid objects that interfere with movement. He tries to fall in such a way as to cause less damage to himself. In this sense, some mothers can, to a certain extent, prevent the child from developing dynamically, removing unnecessary objects from the road and constantly supporting him.
Excessive curiosity and activity of a baby can lead to trouble if you do not remove all dangerous objects as far as possible from children's hands. When putting sharp, cutting and other dangerous things in boxes, you need to understand that children are very resourceful. They manage to open ingenious latches and climb onto chairs and window sills. Their curiosity knows no bounds. The irrepressible desire to get this or that object makes children work miracles. It is better not to leave two-year-old children unattended for a short period of time, even in cases where everything seems to be hidden and closed. Read more: What to do with a 1-year-old child
On the street, for the safety of children, you need to choose children's playgrounds away from the roadway.
Manifestation of personality
1 year after birth, children gradually move away from their mother, striving for independence. They are still heavily dependent on her, but are making their first attempts to make decisions on their own. The child’s psychology undergoes serious changes: by the age of two, the child’s degree of freedom becomes much higher. He can run quite far from his mother without even looking back.
A two-year-old already clearly understands the difference between the wishes of her parents and her own desires. He sees how parents demand fulfillment of their desires. Trying to imitate them, the baby tries to achieve his desires. Copying adult behavior is a core component of children's learning almost from birth. They perceive the world through their family and their parents' behavior. Imitating adults, children adapt to the external environment, harmoniously integrating into the system of human relations. Therefore, it is not surprising that at some point the baby begins to behave like its parents (demanding and persistent). The stricter the child’s parents, the more obstinate his behavior may become after two years. Of course, the manifestation of such qualities also depends on the natural strength of character, temperament and excitability.
Therefore, many parents who complain about children's stubbornness can be advised to look at themselves from the outside. If they are too demanding and uncompromising in their relationship with the baby, perhaps their behavior is reflected in the behavior of the two-year-old, like in a mirror.
Many parents should take a critical look at themselves, because forcing a child is easier than understanding. While the child is small, parents can easily subjugate the baby to their will. But as the child grows up, he will gradually show his character, formed under pressure, and repay his parents in the same coin. He will sincerely believe that he is doing the right thing, because he is doing the same thing as his parents.
Patience and tact are the main assistants for parents when dealing with a stubborn little one. A two-year-old already understands everything and can answer. You can reach an agreement with him, explaining the reasons for this or that requirement.
Read more: What to do with a 10 year old child
A good test for parents is to have your child play with dolls. Usually, during play, the child closely imitates the behavior of adults towards him. If, while playing, a child yells at a doll and hits it, parents should think about the methods of raising their children.
What should parents do, advice from psychologists
The main thing is to remain calm. Things to remember:
- do not practice physical punishment;
- punish after the fact, and not after some time, the baby simply will not connect these two events;
- teach independence;
- encourage the baby. At this age, the baby may already feel a sense of pride when he is praised;
- do not contradict in matters of education;
- establish a routine;
- spend a lot of time outdoors;
- when offering something, provide the right to an imaginary choice (will you do this? - or that?);
- do not be led by hysterics (tears for the sake of tears).
The right to choose helped us a lot.
A child, for example, does not want to go for a walk. Don't ask this question at all if you need to go. And ask, for example, “what hat will you wear.” When the baby gets the right to choose, he will immediately calm down because he was listened to. But under no circumstances ask him if he wants to go for a walk if you absolutely need to go to the store, because if he answers “no” and you go anyway, it will be traumatic for him, and you will thus not recognize his opinion. Did you like the article? I tried to fill the article with bright, joyful photos so that you remember that hysterics do not last forever. And there are many joyful and pleasant moments, and the more of them, the calmer and more cheerful you are. You just need to wait out this age and behave with dignity, so that the child has an example of how to behave in crisis situations and how to control their emotions.
Share the article on social networks and discuss controversial issues together.
After all, as you know, truth is born in a dispute. Have a nice day everyone, and I'm off to play with my son! The book “How to set rules and boundaries of what is permitted for a child” and additional educational materials for parents A step-by-step guide for parents of children from 1.5 to 7-8 years old. A professional psychologist with 17 years of experience will reveal simple steps that will allow you to explain any rules and restrictions to your child so that they understand, accept and follow them. [format - e-book (PDF), 30 pages + additional bonuses and gifts] Online book
Greed as a stage of growing up
After two years, the baby can become very greedy.
Such changes in children's behavior sometimes occur unexpectedly and abruptly. Just yesterday the baby easily gave his toys to other children, but today he categorically refuses to share. The need to part with his belongings makes him suffer. For parents, this child’s behavior upsets and frightens them. They are ashamed in front of others for having a poorly raised child. At the same time, you have to feel sorry for him. They are torn between the desire to prove to others that their baby is not greedy, and the desire to support the baby. At home they hold numerous conversations about the need to share, they shame him and reproach him.
In fact, we are just talking about the next stage of a child’s growing up. To one degree or another, everyone goes through this period. There is nothing unusual in the behavior of a two-year-old, because at this age children develop a sense of their own individuality. They begin to talk about themselves in the first person and define the boundaries of property. This is an important stage in the mental development of children, which allows them to define the concepts of “friend or foe”. Without this period, personal growth is impossible, so there is no need to scold and reproach the child. This will only upset him. If you cannot reach a compromise through negotiations, it is better to leave the conflict area by apologizing to other children. If the baby is categorically not ready to share, you should not take his toys out into the yard or walk with them away from other children. When this period passes, the baby himself will take the initiative.
How to raise a 2 year old boy
The educational impact on boys, in any case, is based on the age characteristics of the child. Therefore, it is necessary to start a conversation about how to properly raise a 2-year-old boy with an understanding of what a two-year-old baby is like.
Until one and a half years of age, there is no difference in the upbringing of children of different sexes. It is at the age of two that the baby begins to understand that boys are different from girls. At two years old, the boy already begins to realize that he belongs to the male gender and identifies himself accordingly.
Positive communication with him is of great importance in the educational impact on a two-year-old boy. You should not get angry or hit a baby at the age of two, otherwise boys will feel that they are not loved, which can cause the appearance of the first symptom of a basic distrust of the world.
By the age of two, boys not only improve their walking, but also develop the ability to run and jump, they learn to throw a ball, and their sense of balance improves. Therefore, a boy should not be prohibited from developing physically. It's okay if, in trying to run and jump, he gets a few bumps and a couple of bruises.
At this stage, the boys develop an attitude towards housework - they have a desire to help their mother, a desire to sweep or vacuum, etc. Such aspirations of children should be encouraged, otherwise they can be discouraged and in the future the child will simply “come out on his own.”
In the two-year age period, for the first time, the need to develop certain prohibitions and certain norms of behavior appears. Contrary to the popular opinion of most psychologists, a baby begins to understand the word “impossible” at approximately the age of three, therefore certain restrictions and a system of non-physical punishment must be introduced already at the age of two.
It is not recommended to overwhelm the boy with excessive care and you should not put pressure on him with your own expectations. For example, if a two-year-old boy does not speak, this is not a reason not to sleep at night. It should be taken into account that boys start talking later than girls. The main thing at this stage is the formation of motor activity and cognitive interests. And even if the baby doesn’t draw as well as the neighbor’s child, then you shouldn’t be upset. After all, each baby develops individually. And with their own expectations and subsequent dissatisfaction or frustration, parents demonstrate their dislike to the child.
The main activity of two-year-old boys is play, which consists of actions with objects of a manipulative nature. It is through such a game that the baby gets to know the environment, the objects in it and the people. Directly in play activities, it is easier to teach boys discipline, routine, order, certain rules, hygiene skills and basic labor skills, how to handle objects and compare them.
It is important for parents to learn that boys should not be punished with cruelty or indifference. By doing this, the parents only demonstrate their weakness to the baby, which can subsequently turn into a weakness of the boy’s character. Strength of spirit in boys needs to be cultivated using other methods.
Children should also be raised according to their gender. In other words, it is not recommended to use words such as “bunny” or “honey” when referring to a male baby. It is better to address your son as follows: “son” or “my beloved protector.”
Little Helpers
Joint activities will help direct children’s energy in a useful direction. This activity will bring great pleasure to the baby, because he will be doing adult things. The baby takes on the work of adults with great enthusiasm, and he definitely needs to be supported in this.
Read more: How to cope with the death of a loved one (parent)
Unfortunately, many parents do not want to involve their children in adult activities. Of course, making dumplings with your mother will end with spilled flour and spoiled dough. Cleaning with a baby will make the apartment dirtier. But by pushing away the child who is eager to help, parents deprive themselves of an assistant in the future. A child’s enthusiasm burns out with age, and it will be much more difficult to convince him to continue helping his parents.
To turn making dumplings into a holiday, you need to allocate a place for your baby and give him a piece of dough. Everyone will make their own dumplings. Then it will be fun to eat mom’s dumplings and those that the baby made. If you organize everything wisely, there won't be much dirt. But the significance of the event for the child is difficult to overestimate.
How to raise a 4 year old boy
We can highlight several simple principles aimed at solving the problem of how to raise a 4-year-old boy.
The first principle is that one should not be afraid to cripple a boy with affection and care. According to numerous studies, male children receive four times less praise and several times more punishment. Therefore, parents should not forget that a four-year-old boy is still a child, and not a small adult. He may be afraid of something; for him, a trip to a new place can be a life event. It is important to understand that adult living standards, concepts of time and space are not suitable for a four-year-old child.
In the age period, which falls on four years, the baby’s emotionality begins to form. And parents at this stage demand restrained behavior from him or, with their careless phrases, forbid him to show emotions. This behavior is fundamentally wrong. A four-year-old boy is just a child, not an adult. Therefore, it is necessary to teach the boy to correctly express his own emotions.
It should also be taken into account that boys at any age require more free space than the fair sex. Therefore, in order to balance the frantic hurricane of activity, it is recommended to purchase a sports corner for your son. Filial restlessness and noisiness must be treated with condescension and patience. However, you should still remember to focus the baby’s attention on the fact that he, as a man, needs to be balanced.
It is during the four-year period that the completion of the formation of boys’ ideas about their own personalities as representatives of the male sex occurs. Previously, the baby was guided by the external differences between the representatives of the strong half and the weak. At the age of four, the child already clearly identifies himself with the male gender and understands how to behave.
Developmental activities
Drawing plays a huge role in the intellectual, mental and physical development of a child. Toddlers as young as two years old connect with the world through movement. Drawing allows the baby to express his emotions in movements that are recorded on paper. Looking at his first scribbles, the child clearly sees his pictures there. He may even give the drawing a title. Trying to better depict what he wants, the baby draws clearer and smoother lines and begins to draw shapes. By improving his drawing, he develops motor coordination. Trying to depict this or that object, the baby studies its properties.
An equally useful activity is modeling. It stimulates the development of motor coordination and imagination. In addition, modeling allows the baby to feel different surfaces and shapes by touch. During the experiments, it was found that two-year-old children attach great importance to tactile sensations. If you let your child touch a cactus and ask him to draw it, the child will draw one large thorn. The prickliness of the object overshadowed its other characteristics: shape, color and size.
Related posts:
Psychological advice to parents: raising a child at 3, 4 years old
Psychology of child behavior
What to do with a 3 year old child
