Do you have a two year old at home? Here are some ideas to help you to enter your two year old's world and see things through their eyes.

Now that I am two years old, I can do so much more on my own.

Communicating
I am beginning to know my own mind and people say I can be very determined. I can tell people things like naming my toys or asking for things but I can't explain how I am feeling. I am learning to communicate but there is still a long way to go. I can tell you what I want but I do expect you to listen and deliver my requests quickly. I suppose I am a bit impatient. Now that I can talk, I love to spend my time with just one person. It doesn't matter what we do, I am as happy helping out at home as I am going to the park. My mum says it takes twice as long when I help but I love it.

Moving
I can walk a lot further now and sometimes I get excited and run after something I have seen. That really scares everyone but I hate being in the buggy unless I am tired. My granny says the answer is not to go too far and to let me run around somewhere that's safe like her garden. We visit family and friends a lot because I embarrass mum sometimes if we are somewhere new when I get cross. My granny says this won't last for ever and my mum said 'I should hope so too'.

Tantrums
Because I am only little, you are able to say no to me a lot. I really don't like that, and sometimes it all gets too much for me. My dad says my temper tantrums remind him of a prize fighter! I don't give in easily. It is like I see red and nothing can stop me.

Actually I don't like being cross and upset. It makes me tired and all that stress upsets my appetite and makes it hard to sleep. If I get cross a lot them I am often up late at night and can't settle. That makes me grumpier still the next day.

Routine
What I really like to do is to spend a day with a nice routine so that that I know what to expect. When mum or dad is in a hurry, they try to rush me and we all go to pieces. My granny says 'it was a lot easier when mummy was little because life was a lot slower'. Now there is so much to do and so I get over excited.


Other Children
I like to see other children too, but they just won't share. I see something I want and they try to keep it which makes me cross. I did go through a stage of biting and hitting to get my favourite toys but mum moved me away on my own and made sure I had someone grown up to play with. I like big kids too. I like to watch them and try to join in their games when they let me. My big sister is ok but her friends get fed up with me. I go to nursery when mummy is at work. I like this new one because it is small and I know people. My old one was scary because there were loads of us and lots of different grown ups who came and went on different days. All the children cried a lot and it was very noisy.

If people want to make my life really nice for me, here are my top 5 things to do:

1. Keep my life simple and not too busy. I do like a routine, it helps me understand.

2. Help me not to get cross by distracting me when I begin to get wound up. I soon forget.

3. Talk to me and let me help you. I love doing that.

4. Don't give me too many toys at once because I get confused. One or two to choose from is best and even better if we play together.

5. Remember I like other children but don't know how to be friends and share. Don't leave me alone too long with other kids or it will all go wrong.

© Jeni Hooper. No content to be reproduced without written approval of the author.

Jeni Hooper is a Chartered Psychologist, Parent Coach and Director of Happy2Learn.

More about this Consultant.

Join the conversation