How to Discipline a 2-Year-Old Child
Imagine that you are at home working. Your child is going to ask you for their favorite book. They want you to read to them.
“You tell them you can’t at the moment, but you will read to them in an hour. They start to lose their minds. They are sitting on the carpet crying.”
“Many parents are not sure how to deal with their toddler’s temper tantrums. It may seem like you are nowhere because your child is not listening.”
What should you do?
Temper tantrums are a typical part of growing up. They are your 2-year-old child’s way of expressing their frustrations when they don’t have the words or language to tell you what they need or feel.
It’s more than just the “terrible twos.” It’s your toddler’s way of learning to deal with new challenges and disappointments.
“There are ways to respond to behavior issues without negatively impacting your child’s development. There are a few ways to discipline your toddler.”
“One of the ways to respond to a child’s tantrum is not to engage.”
“Your 2-year-old’s emotions have gotten the best of them when they are having a big upset. It may not work at that time to talk with them or try other measures.”
“Make sure they are safe. Give them a hug when they are calm and then go on. Unless they are learning that having a tantrum is the easiest way to get your attention, two-year-olds don’t usually have a tantrums on purpose.”
You may want to tell them that you are not responding to their behavior because that behavior is not the way to get your attention. Tell them sternly but calmly that they need to use their words.
They may not have the full vocabulary to tell you, even if they know the words, so encourage them in other ways. For example, you can teach your toddler sign language for words like “I want,” “hurt,” “more,” “drink,” and “tired” if they are not speaking yet or not speaking clearly.
It is possible to cut down on outbursts and build a stronger bond with your child by finding other ways to communicate.
Figuring out your own limits is part of disciplining your toddler. If you feel angry, walk away. Take a deep breath. Make sure your child is safe when you do it.
“Remember that your child is not bad or trying to upset you. They can’t express their feelings the way adults can. You can discipline your child in a way that won’t be harmful if you are calm.”
A toddler is trying to open a container of juice. You think that this will end badly. You could tell your child to put the juice down.
Take the container from them. They will be reassured that you will pour them a cup.
If they reach for something in the cabinet or throw their toys around because they have a hard time getting to the one they want, you can use this technique.
“It helps them know they can ask for help when they are having trouble, instead of trying on their own and making a mess. If you don’t want them to have that item, use a soft voice to explain why you are taking it away and giving them a substitute.”
Our instinct is to scoop up our children and move them away from dangerous objects. That can cause a big problem because you are removing something they wanted.
It is okay to intervene if they are headed into danger. The 2-year-olds are going to have some tempers and learn what they can and cannot do. Not every tantrum can be stopped.
When safety is not at stake, distract and divert is another method. Call their name to get their attention. Call them and show them something else that is safe once they are focused on you.
This can help them get over their anger before it gets out of hand.
It is easy to get upset when your child makes a mess. They drew all over the walls with their crayons. They were playing in the backyard. You have to clean it all up.
Try to think like a small child. They see the activities as fun. They are learning and discovering.
They may be removed from the activity if they start a tantrum. They will most likely go on to something else if you wait a few minutes. You can help guide them. Start coloring on some sheets of paper and invite your friends to do the same.
Your toddler wants to explore the world. The exploration touches everything under the sun. You are bound to become frustrated with their grabbing.
Help them figure out what is safe and what is not. Try to avoid touching things that are not safe, face and animal touch, and touch things that are safe. Think of other word associations like hot touch, cold touch, or owie touch to help tame your little one.
Discipline methods like “Because I said so” and “Because I said no” are not helpful. Set limits and explain why.
“If your child pulls your cat’s fur, tell them that it hurts the cat, and show them how to pet the cat instead. Keeping things out of reach is one way to set boundaries.”
“Setting limits will help your child learn self-control when they can’t do what they want.”
If your child is acting out, you may want to put them in timeout. Pick a boring spot, like a chair.
“Wait for your toddler to calm down and have them sit in that spot. Timeout should last about 1 minute for each year in the child’s age group.”
“If your child wanders before time is up, bring them back to the timeout spot. Don’t respond to anything they say until the timeout is over. Explain to your child why you put them in timeout and why their behavior was wrong.”
Discipline your child with spank-control methods is never a good idea. Such methods hurt your child.
Disciplining your toddler requires you to be sympathetic.
“Discuss any ongoing or unusual behavior with your child’s doctor, since these could be an indication of delays or underlying concerns. temper tantrums are a part of your child’s development”
“When your child doesn’t know how to express their feelings, there are rumors. Stay calm and treat your child with compassion while addressing the concern. Many of these methods will help prevent future tantrums.”
