For parents who have a 2 year old

[OceanPrincess]

How do you do time out? Tell me a bit about that...

We struggle too. You're not alone

Do you try and give him choices where possible? They like to assert their independence around now so I find giving my DD choices can help. As in "DD, we have to get dressed now. Do you want to wear this top or this skirt?" or whatever.

We also have rules for things that she is not allowed to do. The big one at the moment is "keep your hands to yourself" to try and stop her hitting and pushing her little brother. I try and tell her what to do, as opposed to what not to do, ITMS.

I do feel like sometimes everything is a struggle though... I'm with you there.

[Little Chicken]

Oh I hear you! Every day is a struggle. Getting dressed is major drama here every day. Good idea OP, I will try her with a choice and see if that stops the drama. I constantly get "na ah mummy, no, stop" at everything.

[Nai]

It's not just you! Everything at the moment is "no" - we have to give lots of warning if we are about to do something (eg leave the park), give choices (for clothes/dinner) and also try to frame things positively like OP. It is a constant struggle!

[Miss.September]

We're not too bad now that I've discovered that "NO" sometimes actually means "YES" and that I've said it wrong. Like if I say at night "Do you want a bottle" she'll say "NO" and get upset and then three seconds later, she'll say "Want some milk." Her 'bottle' is warm milk in a cup. Getting dressed is sometimes tricky, and getting her to eat is near on impossible.

Hair washing is a major problem here too, so if anyone has any tips for that, I'd love it!

[jenjen25]

Nice to hear that we are all going through the same thing, I said to my husband that i'm frustrated because what was working for us before none of those things are working now, so i know that i need to change what i'm doing. So that's where i'm stuck...i don't know what the next steps are???

Timeout - if he's doing something he's not supposed to, we say Ryder, Mummy asked you not to touch the tv (or whatever), if you do that again you'll have to go on timeout. So then he'll always do it again, and we take him to a spot on the floor, but i can't get him to stay there by himself, so we sit him down and explain, mummy asked you not to touch the tv, and just try and calm him down and take him away from the situation. Then we ask him if he understands and we have a hug and a kiss. i guess we don't want to make it bad boy, but more taking him away and explaining.
Everything's fine when we're outside, so maybe i just get my winter woolies on and spend time outside with him

Thanks for the feedback, better already

[Shanti]

I find giving my 2 yr old only '2 choices' is best..... so don't say 'which one do you want' it overwhelms them, just hold up two things and say 'you can wear this one, OR this one'.... much easier.

We just started watching the DVD '123 Magic' it looks really good and I am liking parts of it already...... it seems really sensible and fair.

These 2 yr old's sure can be tough cookies some days

[Little Chicken]

Bath time here is a killer. Will not sit down, stands there crying and screaming out help help me mummy while I wash her. She used to be great, loved the bath and playing with her sister, but now tears and screaming. I hate it.

[angelaartsstudent]

Bath time here is a killer. Will not sit down, stands there crying and screaming out help help me mummy while I wash her. She used to be great, loved the bath and playing with her sister, but now tears and screaming. I hate it.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this.

DD1 is *exactly* the same and it's driving me mental. Total hysterical screaming for Mummy, won't sit down, howls, cries...you'd think we were trying to seriously assault her - that is what it sounds like - but no, just trying to bathe her.

She used to love baths...

[DANNIIM]

O boy the joys of 2 yr olds!! We don't have dramas generally with getting dressed or washing hair unless DS2 is in a complete foul mood then i just do it, he chucks his tanty then i just leave him to sort himself out and generally after a minute or two comes to me for a cuddle and everything is sweet again. We just have problems with him sleeping - he's a terrible sleeper and at the moment i have to put him to bed 6 times before he will go to sleep at night... talk about frustrating! Then there is the touching everything, getting into everything that he knows is the NO GO things and if you miss something he is doing well it's just broken then. I'm seriously wondering how we are going to go when this bub is born with feeding and keeping an eye on DS2 - i hoping against all hope that he has improved some what either that or i will be ready for the loony bin.

Shanti that 123 magic is adopted in the school where DS1 goes and is great for the kids knowing and adjusting to boundaries.

[Heaven]

It's not just you! Everything at the moment is "no" - we have to give lots of warning if we are about to do something (eg leave the park), give choices (for clothes/dinner) and also try to frame things positively like OP. It is a constant struggle!

Yep, we do what Nai does.

Also, get your hands on a copy of 'What every parent needs to know' by Margot Sunderland. REALLY FABULOUS book and will not only give you lots of ideas but explain WHY your 2 yo acts this way which is really helpful and makes you feel better about it anyway.

[~Kim~]

Yes, yes and yes.

Something I have found helpful with not only my 2yo but my 5yo as well is making a statement of fact rather than giving and order. For example "The blocks go in the bucket" followed by a demonstration, as opposed to "put the blocs in the bucket". Or "it would be yucky to slip and fall and hit your head wouldn't it?" instead of "stop doing that you'll hurt yourself".

[Queen]

I hear ya!
We have started 'removing' her from the situation.
Its hard! She is so cute but so darn evil at time