Children who fully meet the expectations of their parents and always behave ideally do not exist, but even the quietest of them, reaching a certain age, may behave simply inappropriately. An explanation for this was found long ago and was called the three-year crisis, which is difficult to survive, but quite possible.
How to recognize a three-year crisis
In fact, there is nothing difficult in this, it is just that in some children it is more pronounced, while in others it is not, and in many respects it depends not only on character and habits, but also on internal temperament. This period is associated with a growth spurt and the formation of personality, since it is closer to three that the child finally realizes himself not as a part of the mother, but completely independent. The only problem is that it is not yet clear where to direct this independence.
In practice, the crisis of three years is expressed in unreasonable stubbornness, scandals, hysterics, during which the child tries to achieve his goal. They can appear in absolutely any place and sometimes just for reasons that are insignificant from the point of view of parents. Although the essence of behavioral denial is not even the desire to get something, but rather the desire to push the boundaries of what is permitted and demonstrate one's own point of view. The crisis can pass both within one summer and last for a whole year.
Don't expect your child's behavior to change exactly after their birthday. The time frame indicated in the name of this crisis is conditional, therefore it can happen in 2.5 years and after 3.
How to overcome the crisis in three years
It is not enough not only to know how to define a three-year crisis, but also how to survive it. Sometimes parents think that only they feel unbearable, and the child is only making every possible effort to make them mad. In fact, it is no less difficult for him, since often meaningless demands and tantrums not only do not bring relief, but also put him in a deliberately unfavorable position. Each child has to look for his own key. It helps some to completely ignore scandals, although this way of behavior is not very convenient in public places, while others find it easier to switch the child's attention to something else. In any case, a creative approach to the situation is welcome.
It should be remembered that if you have a choice of many scandals, you can simply avoid, for example, offering your child for lunch or soup, or a side dish with vegetables, and not trying to shout out to convince him to eat both.
What not to do
We can immediately say that an attempt to break the child's behavior with prohibitions and punishments does not lead to anything and only further aggravates the situation, exacerbating relations and having a negative impact on the fragile child's psyche. This does not mean that you need to indulge in whims, but trying to find a way out, pointing out to the child that no one is interested in his opinion, is also wrong.
