{"id":21397,"date":"2013-09-26T12:48:01","date_gmt":"2013-09-26T19:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=21397"},"modified":"2018-06-20T16:23:59","modified_gmt":"2018-06-20T23:23:59","slug":"terrible-twos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/terrible-twos\/","title":{"rendered":"Terrible Twos"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AThe terrible twos are a stage during early childhood associated with increased boundary-testing and tantrums<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What Are the Terrible Twos?<\/h2>\n

Usually occurring sometime between 18 months and three years old, the terrible twos are associated with increased assertiveness, desire for independence, and frustration. Many developmental psychologists suspect that the terrible twos are a result of a child\u2019s increasing ability to have separate desires from his or her parents in conjunction with insufficient ability to verbally express those desires. However, even highly verbal children may experience the terrible twos, so the developmental period might simply be a result of independence-seeking. Common traits associated with this developmental stage include regular tantrums, frequently saying no, refusal to follow caregiver instructions, defiance, and becoming easily frustrated.<\/p>\n

The Terrible Twos and Child Development<\/h2>\n
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The terrible twos are a normal stage of development among many American children and do not warrant mental health treatment. This phase typically goes away on its own. However, parents who set appropriate limits and who maintain consistent rules may be able to better manage children’s behavior during this period. Some strategies that some parents find effective for managing the terrible twos include:<\/p>\n