Even when your toddler is doing something that is annoying, er, frustrating, you still love them. You may just find yourself wishing that they would quickly grow out of this particular stage. You may not know that these annoying little habits your toddler has developed are actually good for them. Here are some of those things and how it benefits your toddler’s development.

TODDLERS LOVE TO REDECORATE THE HOUSE

Whether it is meal time or play time, your toddler seems to be especially good at making spectacular messes. It may even feel like your only job is a day is to clean up your house. You have a few options when it comes to coping with your toddler’s desire to help you redecorate the house on a daily basis. One option is to invest in some good cleaning products and roll with it. You can also just let it go and not worry about the mess. This may be counterproductive because when you do decide to clean, it will take you twice as long to get your home back into order. Another solution is to contain the amount of mess that your toddler can make in your home. Use baby gates throughout your house to not only limit the amount of messes that your toddler can make, but to also keep them out of areas that are unsafe. This phase tends to only last a few months for some. The reason behind your toddler making these messes is that they are learning about their world and engaging all of their senses at the same time. They’re also working towards developing their motor skills and learning how to play independently.

TODDLERS LOVE TO SAY “NO”

This annoying little trait can leave you feeling frustrated with your toddler. No matter the question, their first response may always be a thick blanket of “no.” You might find yourself just wanting to throw up your hands and give up. The reason behind your toddler behaving this way is that they are trying to establish their own identity. As a baby, they viewed themselves as an extension of you. Now that they’ve gotten a little older, they are realizing that they’re their own person. Having this new sense of themselves causes them to want to express their independence from you. The best way to cope with this situation is to allow your toddler to feel more independent, within reason of course. Let them make more decisions for themselves. The phase will pass more quickly if they feel as though they have a say in their lives.

TODDLERS LOVE TO READ THE SAME STORY… AGAIN AND AGAIN

Having to read the same story again and again can start to make you feel as though you’re losing your mind. Children like repetition. This is how they learn and develop their abilities to use language. By reading the same story, you’re allowing your toddler to better learn how to communicate with you. Even though it may drive you nuts, give into this demand. It will pay off later when your toddler is able to tell you what they want or how they’re feeling.

TODDLERS LOVE EPIC TANTRUMS

Your toddler always seems to pick the worst time to have a meltdown, am I right? This is because they can’t express what they’re feeling. Imagine if you couldn’t convey your emotions. You would probably get pretty frustrated too. Talking to your toddler about other ways that they can cope with their emotions can help you pass this phase quicker. Just as with any phase of development, your toddler is learning about what works in the most effective manner. Give your toddler some tools to handle their emotions in order to lessen the amount of tantrums. Model appropriate responses and give them opportunities to practice in non-stressful situations.

Author Bio: Erica Johnson is the Main Editor for Inner Parents and a very proud mother of two. She is passionate about the latest parenting tips & baby products. Follow along with Erica by checking out her Tweets below.

Photo Credit: Mojitos and Munchkins, Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash, Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash, Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash