Comedian Jerry Springer once described having a 2-year-old as “like having a blender… without a lid.” For many parents, the tantrums, kicking, hitting, and all-out defiance can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time moms who may have only read about the Terrible Twos.
According to Bernadette C. Benitez, MD, pediatrician at Makati Medical Center, the Terrible Twos is a normal developmental phase, typically between 18 and 30 months. “At this age, toddlers are walking, climbing, and speaking in short sentences,” she explains. “They’re learning emotions, testing boundaries, asserting independence, and realizing that what they want may not match what others want. Their nervous system is still immature, making it hard to manage big feelings.”
When tantrums strike, the first step is staying calm. “Take a deep breath and remind yourself that no one’s at fault,” Dr. Benitez advises. Handling the outburst depends on the cause and location. In public, move your toddler to a quiet spot and speak gently at their eye level, using reassuring questions like, ‘What’s bothering you?’ or gentle touch to soothe them. At home, ignoring tantrums after a refusal teaches children that outbursts aren’t effective, helping them self-regulate.
Offering choices instead of yes-or-no questions helps toddlers express themselves, while hitting or kicking requires separating children, comforting the hurt child, and calmly explaining consequences. Repeated tantrums may call for a time-out, allowing toddlers to manage emotions while reinforcing boundaries.
Parents will have moments of frustration too. “It’s natural to raise your voice,” Dr. Benitez says. “Once you’ve calmed down, apologize and model accountability—your child learns from your example.”
For more guidance, contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email [email protected], or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter for tips.
