By two years old children have already learned to walk, in fact, some run and go up and down stairs with surprising ease, which opens up endless opportunities for them to explore their environment more independently. Their motor and cognitive skills have also evolved a lot and the little ones are appropriating an increasingly broad vocabulary that allows them to better relate to those around them.

At this age fine motor skills also develop a lot, their movements become more precise and they are able to use their thumb and forefinger to grasp objects, a movement known as ‘intelligent clamp’ and which is the first step so that later they can draw and learn to write. At two years old their senses are also sharpened, in fact, the little ones are already capable of capturing what is happening around them at an angle of 180˚ and can relate the illustrations of the stories with the story they listen.

At two years old they are already able to imitate the behavior, gestures and language of adults, although most of the time they do not understand their meaning. However, not all the changes that occur at this stage are positive, at two years of age children also tend to become more restless, which can confuse many parents.

More restlessness and impulsiveness

Two years is a critical stage in the development of children. The fact of having achieved greater independence leads them to want to do things on their own, even if they do not know very well how to achieve it. Other times they can show great negativity, there will be days when they refuse to wash their hands, get dressed or look for toys, because they don’t want to feel controlled by their parents, they think they are ‘big kids’. It is a period in which the little ones have just discovered their independence and enjoy it. In addition, they are debuting their character, which is why the dreaded tantrums usually appear.

At this age, most children Children know what they want, but they are not aware of their limits, which usually generates great frustration that they do not know how to face. For this reason, when they find themselves in a situation in which they cannot get what they want, they get angry and, since they are not yet able to express their anger in words, they usually do so through tantrums. The fact that they are more aware of themselves and that they begin to experience more complex feelings, such as pride, shame or jealousy, will cause them to express them openly. They can also become very possessive at times and display mood swings that amaze parents.

Keys to dealing with the child’s two years

In this period the fundamental key is patience. Keep in mind that this is just a phase and that it will pass soon. Your child will gain responsibility and measure. However, you can put into practice some of these tips to help him get through this stage:

• Make sure you encourage his autonomy without putting too much pressure on him and, whenever you can, help him in whatever he needs.
• In the face of tantrums, talk to him with affection but maintain a firm attitude and set clear limits whenever necessary.
• Help him understand his own emotions and give him tools to deal with them. In this way he will learn to know himself better and control his impulsive reactions.
• Don’t celebrate his pranks, but don’t criticize them either. Remember that your child is in a phase of exploration and discovery and that hurtful comments can damage your self-esteem.