Terrible TWO’s

1. Terrible TWO’s Physical Development. Developmental Milestones. Nutrition & Health Potty Training Behavior ( The Terrible part of the “TWO”)

2. Physical Development The height and weight of the children during first years of life mark the growth to adulthood. • Children grow an average of 2.5 inches a year. • Children gain about 4 lbs each. • Children’s body proportions change from a big head with short legs, arms. • Average height and weight for 2 year old boys equal: • 31 inch • 28.4 lbs • Average height and weight for 2 year old girls equal: • 30 inches • 28.4 lbs In the preschool toddler stage, children grow average of: • 2.5 inches. • Gain about 4 lbs per a year. • At this age, children begin to thin out. • Percentage of body fat peak at age one decreases to about 1.5 by 5th birthday.

3. Dramatic changes in postures & body • Dramatic changes in postures and body proportions transform the child from infant to toddler. • Postures • The babyish look of an infant can be partly attributed to posture. • The infants have protruding abdomens and inwardly curving lower backs which partly causes them to look pudgy. • At age 2, muscle tone improves and posture becomes more vertical; this causes children at this age to look leaner and taller. • Bodily Proportions • Infants and young toddlers have a relatively large head with short legs and arms. • At age 2, head growth slows while the rest of body grows more quickly. This causes the body to look more proportionate.

4. Developmental Milestones • Child development refers to how a child becomes able to do more complex things as they get older. Growth refers to the child getting bigger in size. ( www. Healthychildren.org ) • What is a developmental delay Or milestone? • It is a process in which a child does not reach their developmental milestones at the expected times. It is ongoing major or minor delay. Delay can occur in one or many areas, for example, a gross or fine motor, language, social or thinking skills. • What you can do if your child has a developmental delay. • Talk to child’s pediatrician. • Early intervention program. • Seek support from friends or relatives.

5. Nutrition & Health Nutritionis a process that organisms use to obtain mineral, vitamins, carbohydrate, and fibers to sustain life. The World Health Organization ( WHO) defines Health as “ a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. According to Health.org by age 2, children should be eating three to health meals a day, plus 2-3 nutritious snacks. • According to zero to three.org, the size of a child’s stomach is about the size of their clenched fist. • According to WICHealth.org by age 2, children should eat three healthy meals plus two to three nutritious snacks a day. Try to have meals and snacks at the same times everyday, however, some days toddlers eat what seems like nothing, but other days they make up for it.

6. Potty Training • Potty training is the process of training a young child to use the toilet for urination and defecation. • Potty training happens in variety ways for different reasons and with different intentions. Children’s attention spans, parent’s work status and cultures all play an important part of potty training. • Berry Braselton is a leading U.S pediatrician and author of “Toilet Training” Braselton believes potty training should begin around age 2.” • Braselton claims that at age 2 children cognitively, emotionally and biologically ready to potty train. Because they Stay dry through out the day, NB: It is not until about 3 years of age that a child is biologically able to stay dry through out the night.

7. Behavior ( The terrible part of the “Twos”) • Behavior is the range of actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems in their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment. The terrible two’s are described as the second stage of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. • At age 18-months through 3 years. children focused on a greater scène of self and self control. • Children gain control over food choices, toy preferences and clothing selection • An important part of terrible two’s is “ potty training” • Children have temper tantrums, use the word “no” • Changes in mood are common at the age of 2 years old.