Two-Year-Olds Discussions
Our questions and expert discussions about two-year-olds provide parents with the tools they need to survive the "terrible twos." Get answers to your questions, ask a question for our experts and interact with other parents of two-year-olds.
DiscussionIs it too early to teach my almost 3-year-old to read?
While you may want to teach your child how to read as early as possible to ensure that your child has a head start on reading, it is important to not push your child. Most children are not developmentally ready to read until they are 5 or 6 years old. So, let your child take the lead, and nurture your child’s natural interest in readin...
Do you have any fun ideas to celebrate the Fourth of July with my children?
You can celebrate the Fourth of July fun with patriotic activities, decorations, treats, and crafts. Organize a bike/trike parade with your neighbors and have all the children decorate their rides with streamers. Decorate your house and yard with red, white, and blue balloons and garland, or have a 4th of July picnic with red, white,...
Creativity & Life Skills
How can I help my toddler overcome a fear of animals?
As toddlers become more aware of the world around them, they may develop fears. Understand that this is a perfectly normal response given your child's limited range of experiences and ability to express emotions. First, acknowledge your child's fears. Then, reassure your child that you will keep him or her safe ("Mommy will hold you un...
Personal & Social Skills
How can I encourage creativity in my child?
The best way to encourage creativity in young children is to provide them with lots of opportunities to be creative. Give children lots of different experiences (visiting farms, looking at art, talking with relatives, listening to music) from which they may pull ideas. Provide materials and time for open-ended exploration, such as free...
Creativity & Life Skills
How can I promote empathy in my toddler?
Toddlers are developmentally incapable of truly predicting and understanding another person's response to a situation. This means that if a toddler finds something funny, such as dumping a bucket of water on Daddy, he is unable to understand why Daddy does not also find it funny. Children only begin to develop this ability around age 4...
Personal & Social Skills
Should I send my 2-year-old to preschool?
Whether or not to send a child to preschool at any age is a personal family decision. Many preschools with 2-year-old programs are similar to day cares with a few more formal educational activities. To determine if your child is ready for preschool, consider whether or not he or she can comfortably separate from you for several hours, ...
Personal & Social Skills
How can I get my kids to volunteer with me?
Becoming a parent often means rearranging priorities, but it does not mean having to completely lose your sense of self. You may not be able to enjoy all the activities you did before you had kids but it is important to preserve one or two things that give you a creative outlet and boost your own self-esteem. Volunteering is a wonderfu...
Personal & Social Skills
My toddler won't sit still! What can I do to encourage my jitter bug to take a break?
If your toddler won't sit still for stories, crafts or meals, first consider if this is really a problem. Toddlers are very busy at their primary job: learning about the world through exploration. Often, the problem is not that the toddler is too active but rather that our society expects young children to be calm and focused before th...
Personal & Social Skills
Is it okay to keep my kid up late for special events?
In some cultures, children stay up much later than children in the United States. Routines are important for young children. At the same time, attending special family events makes for great childhood memories. Try to have your child get an extra nap in that day, make sure there is a quiet place for your child to safely rest if he or s...
Personal & Social Skills
Should I let my toddler wear whatever she wants?
While it may not be fashionable, take comfort in knowing that your toddler’s new found love for mixing fashion is a sign of an important developmental milestone -- an emerging sense of self. Your toddler now knows what he/she wants (and doesn’t want) and has the words to communicate it to you! Giving toddlers the opportunity to make th...
Personal & Social Skills
How can I help my daughter's speech?
Research shows that one of the best ways to help your child’s speech is to narrate your daily activities. Describe what you are doing and point and label everyday objects and actions.
Language Learning
I have tried playing some board games with my son, but he doesn’t play for more than a few minutes. Any suggestions?
Board games are a fun way to spend uninterrupted, quality time with your child. Most board games are made for children 3 years of age and older, since younger children are not developmentally ready to play games that require them to “play by the rules”.
Logic & Problem Solving