The three-year-old development. . . A wonderful stage where life is getting easier with your little one–they are now able to handle more responsibility, are going off to preschool and you may find yourself having more fun since they can participate in more “grown-up” activities. But, with this greatness comes a need for expressing their opinion (which many times differs from yours) and a want to do everything on their own, their way. Handling a three year old can takes a lot of patience and goodwill, so Breezy Mama turned to Dr. Fran Walfish for advice on overcoming the hardest behaviors. . .
Why are the “two’s” considered “terrible” when it’s really the three’s that are gnarly?
THE “TERRIBLE TWO’S” SEEM TO HAVE BECOME THE “TERRIBLE THREE’S” FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON. ORIGINALLY, RESEARCHERS BELIEVED THAT THE RAPPROCHEMENT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT OCCURS FROM 18 MONTHS- 3 YEARS. IN MY LARGE PRIVATE PRACTICE WHERE I HAVE TREATED THOUSANDS OF YOUNG TODDLERS, I OBSERVE THAT THIS PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RESOLVES CLOSER TO AGE 4 YEARS. THAT IMPLIES THAT WHAT WE USED TO SEE IN TODDLERS AROUND AGE 2 IS NOW BEING OBSERVED AT AGE 3 YEARS. THESE BEHAVIORS INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN OPPOSITION, DEFIANCE, AND CLAIMING ONESELF AS A SEPARATE BEING FROM MOMMY AND DADDY. THIS MAY INCLUDE TEMPER TANTRUMS, HITTING, DELAYS FOLLOWING COMMANDS, AND GENERALLY REQUIRING MORE TEACHABLE MOMENTS. THIS PHASE INVOLVES THE RHYTHMIC [Read more…] about Taming the Tyrant – Your Three-Year-Old