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That Wonderful Third Year
The Thrills and Joys of Parenting a 2-year-old
By Shannon McKelden
Your baby's first year was full of joyous firsts and discoveries. The second year was packed with newfound action and communication. But the third year, beginning with your child's 2nd birthday, sometimes gets a bad wrap. It even has a name – the terrible twos.
However, there's a purpose to all the stubborn "no's" and struggles – your little one is growing up. And, believe it or not, this year can be just as joyful as the last two years have been, if you just know how to look for the fun.
The more your toddler learns, the more delighted she is to keep learning. Watching toddlers grow into little people is one of the greatest joys a parent can experience.
"This is ... an age where they are showing you that they can do things on their own," says Kimberley Clayton Blaine, a licensed child therapist, founder of TheGoToMom.com and mother of two. "[Two-year-olds are] using feeding utensils, trying to put on shoes or just saying 'no' to try out their newfound independence."
One of the biggest changes this year is mobility. Your child is now on the go. Just try to stop them! "Two-year-olds love to climb, run and walk and have a strong desire to play outside in nature," Blaine says. "If parents provide a great place for their child to move about and have outdoor play they will find this time fun and exciting."
Dr. Linda M. Gulyn, associate professor of Psychology and Human Development at Marymount University, agrees. "At 24 months, toddlers have stronger gross motor skills such as running and climbing, so they are very happy to play at a playground with slides, swings and climbing equipment." She adds that most 2-year-olds love to dance and are coordinated enough to even climb into their own car seats. "I found it very nice that children in their third year do not have to be carried around everywhere!" says the mother of 4- and 6-year-old twins. "They are capable of and prefer walking by themselves into their house!"
