What are the Signs of the Terrible Threes? Nine Telltale Clues

Last updated on March 26th, 2023 at 02:50 pm

The ‘terrible twos’ have a reputation with most parents. But for some toddlers, it is the year three milestone that parents and guardians find rough in their parenting journey. It is nothing much to worry about, but just a phase in your child’s development. It is the stage kids learn to communicate and express feelings on their own–though in an assertive and snappy way.

There is a secret to surviving the terrible threes stage. It is all about knowing what to expect and how best to deal with the situation. It also requires a lot of patience, because the whole stage can be mentally and physically draining for most, if not all, parents.

Thanks to studies and experience from other parents, it is easy for new parents to prepare for this stage by knowing what to watch out for.

What Are the Signs of Terrible Threes? Nine Tell-Tale Signs

• No is Always The Answer

No will be the most common word you hear from your child. Whether it is to ask them to wear a sweater or asking them for the remote. NO! It will be their favorite word for just about everything.

• Mood Swings

One moment your baby is full of energy, happy, and cheerful. A few minutes later, all they give you are cries, screams, and cold shoulders.

• Do Kids Really Lose Their Appetite?

Is your child getting picky with their meals? You are probably in the terrible threes stage already. At this point, they simply reject or ignore the food you feed them. Kids develop into somewhat ‘picky eaters.’ They will become picky with the foods you give them. Mostly, they prefer a particular type of diet for an extensive period. [Also read: Raising Good Eaters — Helping Your Kids Grow up to Enjoy a Variety of Healthy Foods]

• Napping Challenges

By the time your child hits age three, you will already have a daily afternoon nap timetable in place that they follow strictly. But during the terrible threes, it gets challenging for them to take that nap. Some days, they will skip it, and if they do take a nap, good luck trying to get them to bed early.

• Objecting to Things They Used to be Okay With

They will insist on doing things more independently. For instance, as you walk, there will be less holding hands. They will want to test most of the skills and abilities they have learned by now. 

• More Questions

They will always ask ‘WHY’ to everything you say. You will find it cute and adorable at first, like showing interest or trying to learn something. But when they keep repeating the same question, it can be exhausting or annoying, especially when you are busy with work.

• The Tantrums Are Worse

By the time they are two, kids get all wound up and resort to crying, screaming, or even hitting and kicking. Now, they are bigger, stronger, and all grown. The tantrums will include aggravated foot-stomping and throwing things whenever you find yourself correcting them or they can’t get what they want.

• Getting Them Dressed Is a Daily Struggle

You will try different approaches to get your toddler ready for preschool, Sunday school, or a doctor’s appointment without success. Taking those pj’s off will become warfare. Kids will become unwilling to get dressed, and they take off clothes you’ve already put on them.

• You Will Find Yourself Giving in to Their Demands

You will allow your kids to do things you find dreadful only to avoid the dramas and tantrums. You will find yourself allowing them to extend their play dates to avoid the kicking and shouting as you drag them home.

Good thing the terrible threes don’t last forever. It’s a normal developmental phase, but there are ways to manage it. Handling the terrible threes will test your patience and love as a parent. 

All of these might push you to your limits for the time being, but as they get to their fourth year, children learn how to communicate and conventionally express their feelings. In the meantime, you just need to know the signs of terrible threes and be ready for it.

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Mo Mulla is a work-from-home dad who enjoys reading and listening to music. He loves being a dad and husband to a growing family. He loves writing about his passions and hopes to change the world, one blog post at a time! You can find his parenting blog here: www.ParentalQuestions.com

Also read:
6 Tips to Teach Your Kids Healthy Sleep Habits
Mini Moments Worth Celebrating
Tips for Reading Aloud to Your Kids

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