“I am 2. I am not terrible. I am frustrated. I am nervous stressed out, overwhelmed, and confused. I need a hug!”

From dairy of a two-year-old

Living life with a two-year-old? It can be a crazy and overwhelming stance at the same time. Even though it is much easy to get the things done for your toddler but it is worth waiting, watching, and keeping patient while letting them try and do tasks on their own. They may surprise you with their abilities and showcasing the task without help will be rewarding for both of you.

Teaching your kids to do things on their own is an essential part of their growth and development. This should begin from an early age.

A two-year old may not be grown up enough to express his things in words, but his genius brain grabs things quicker than we think.

By the age kids turn 2, their brain almost develops. So, it becomes important for parents to introduce and teach them age-appropriate activities and let them try and do them on their own. Parents must spare some time from their busy schedule for kids’ activities.

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Small activities at home build up their gross and fine motor skills, cognitive and interpersonal skills, communication skills, speech and language, and social & emotional development. These are needed to build their mental health.

One of the amazing items to gift for your two-year-old. The activities are designed to help girls & boys of 2 years learn and develop better. This toddler toy develops creativity, memory, language, speech, and more. This game develops your two-year-old’s logical thinking via its fun and interactive matching game concept. There is a reward chart that can help your child take the first step towards learning good manners, by motivating them to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you. This beautifully designed and packaged gift of learning would be loved by both boys & girls. The books & toys inside are age-appropriate. Must-Try!

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In our running schedule, we are short of time. So we prefer to do it for kids and not let them do it on their own. Why? Because they take time. They will! This is how they learn.

The list below are 15 easy tasks a two-year-old can do on his own:

Eat handy foods on their own

Introducing solids to two-year-old ones is one of the milestones in their growth and development. They eat some, they spill some. It is messy. Parents put in their best in the preparation of their kids’ food. They even put in their heart and soul when it comes to making their toddler sit in one place and eat properly. It is a challenging job. They use all negotiations. Even after trying hard, most of us fail to make them do so. Right? Well, that’s common!

One of the reasons behind this is children develop their taste buds over a period of time.

Good eating habits and table manners should be started from an early age. Gradually, kids pick up and grab them. As soon parents start with a solid diet of a child, they should be introduced to the self-feeding process too. And to start with this try giving handy foods like:

• A slice of an apple
• Banana
• Carrot
• Cucumber
• Peeled oranges
• Pomegranate etc.

When they hold and eat on their own, their muscles strengthen and grip tightens. They also learn the ability to balance. It helps them to develop their fine motor skills. The journey from spoon-feeding to self-feeding may sound familiar but it helps children to build confidence and a sense of pride in them.

Drink from glass/mugs on their own

A toddler, two-year-old, is grown-up enough to hold things. As soon as they are introduced to self-feeding, they should also be introduced to glass/mugs for drinking their beverages. One of the best way is to give them a small glass with small quantity of liquid. A sipper with a the handle on both sides is one of the best way to make them learn the ability to drink.

.From sucking to gulping liquids, it helps them develop their hand-to-mouth coordination. Mouth muscles build along with their taste buds. They also gain control over balancing. When kids do things on their own their confidence builds up. They feel like doing and learning more.

Keep toys back in place

Toddlers start observing things from the early months of their second year. They start recognizing too. If they see people around them putting their things back in place, they will catch it too. Unknowingly, they made up their minds that it is right to do so.

Parents should allow them to create a mess with toys, give them their time but also ask them to put them back in place every time, once they are done playing. They should be made to understand that toys belong to them and it is their responsibility to keep them nice. Whether big or small, cheap or expensive, bought or gifted, they should not mishandle them. This way they will learn to value things that belong to them.

Put on their shoes

A two-year-old is grown-up enough to wear shoes on their own, of course, non-lace. Daily wear crocs or home slippers is the best to start with.

Make them understand that design of the slippers is like the design of their tiny feet, so they know which one will go in which foot. Parents can also make simple designs, like fish kissing on each slipper, to make them know that they should be facing each other.

Keeping their shoes in the rack

Parents can also ask young ones to keep their shoes back in place. But first, they need to do the same. If children see adults doing so, they will learn it themselves. This habit learned in early years of growth will remain forever in books of good mannerisms.

Throw waste in the dustbin

This is an essential activity and should begin as soon as the child starts walking. Make children understand why is it important to throw waste in a dustbin. Though it is taught in schools/institutions too, practically following it is important. This habit will makes them responsible citizens to take care of their home, neighborhood and, society. If each one of us make this habit, our earth will soon be greener again.

Put away their dishes in the sink after eating

A two-year-old is grown up enough to understand that once you are done with your food, it is your responsibility to clear your table and put away dishes in the sink. Though it is not a big task this small chore will help them to understand the term responsibility.

Climb stairs up/down

Once children start walking and running, their next step is to explore the world in their reach. They feel like now they are independent and grown-up enough to go any way they want.

Sooner, they start walking, they start running, climbing, jumping, hopping too. And, stairs is one such play area where every child has tried hanging games. Let them do! But keep them under your supervision.

Make own choices

Children are innocent. They are choosy, they are demanding. They may like what is not meant for them, but they want. Why? It attracts them. They would want to explore. Let them do. And that’s how they learn things. But keep an eye on supervision.

A two-year toddler is grown-up enough to choose and decide what he wants. Maybe a pair of shoes or which color tee shirt he wants to wear. They can choose. Deciding upon small things gives them the power of decision and boosts confidence. They can grab this habit as soon as they complete their two years. Give them as many options as you can to decide upon. Choosing will also help them to understand their likes and dislikes.

Interesting tips on parenting & lifestyle

Assist in passing things

That moment when we ask the little one to pass something in their approach and they do the same is such a cute worth watching moment. It is fun to see small hands helping in passing things. This small activity may sound common but helps them in the below manner:

• Improves listening and understanding skills
• Builds a vocabulary of new things
• Learns the art of balancing
• Give them a sense of pride
• Learn to assist in small household chores
• Develops a habit of helping others
• They grew as a responsible person

Give them a chance and they may surprise you with their antics.

Wash hands-on own

This hygiene habit is simple but important. Make your children learn this habit by watching you. Every time you wash your hands before and after the meal, take them along and ask them to do the same. Also, ask them to wipe with a towel or tissues. They will not only learn that it is important to keep themselves hygienic but it will be less contaminated to equip them with spreadable diseases.

Some other few simple tasks they can do on their own are:

Little ones can carry backpacks.

When going out for a nature walk or picnic, give them their own lightweight bags. A two-year-old would love to carry it.

Can switch on/off lights

Parents must watch out that they do not misplay with electrical switches.

Can open/close the door on instructions

Can feed the pets by putting food in their bowls.

Young minds are like a blank page. On a blank paper whatever we write first, leaves a mark forever. Any cutting or overwriting done on it, doesn’t change its impression. Neither it looks good. Similarly, trying to bring any change in young minds in latter years of their growth and development, doesn’t change the first impression. Plus, it will be more challenging.

Also Read: Signs of good parenting