What a two-year old would tell us if they could.

My grandson turned two today! In honor of his birth, I'd like to share five things that might help us better understand this wonderful age.

1. Two year-olds learn by exploring and through what is modeled. They are driven to learn about their world. Real things are far more interesting than toys. Explanations are not very useful to two-year olds. They love examples!  Show them how to do something first. Then give it a name.

2. Two-year olds are just beginning to have an experience of past tense. They won't have an experience of future tense for another four years. That means when you tell them something, like "gentle with the baby" they might be gentle this time, but maybe not so gentle the next. Staying close and modeling what gentle is works wonders. Expect to sweetly repeat this many times. By three years old, gentle hands will be the norm.

3. Two year-olds are full of emotions they did not experience six months ago! Its going to take a year to name those feelings, another year to figure out someone else has feelings and two more years to learn how work together so that everyone's feelings and needs are honored. Personally, I think its one of the biggest jobs a child will ever do. Imagine a world where everyone understood that their own need is as important but not more important  than anyone else's need. Let's be patient with them. If we help them learn this, they will change our world!

4. Two-year olds have only two years left to program their brain for every way their body will ever interact with the outside world. Please let them move, climb, run, touch, hold, open, close and balance! Even if it looks a little scary. Just stay close enough to nonchalantly catch them.

5. Even though your two-year old seems insistent on independence now, your little one has never felt so vulnerable. Your loving heart is everything to this little human. There is nothing in the world more important than the bond of love you have. Patience, gentleness and close supervision builds your little one's confidence. And if you just knew you were going to wean at two but now your not sure; another six months or so will be a blessing to both of you.