CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Top 10 Ways the Twos Really Aren't Terrible

Sure, you’re dealing with a lot of no! and mine! (I am too.) But at this age toddlers are also imaginative, playful and straight-up fun. Aren’t you happy you’ve got all this now?
save article
profile picture of Melissa Walker
Updated March 2, 2017
Top 10 Ways the Twos Really Aren't Terrible
Image: Shutterstock

They’ve got words

Remember when your baby mostly grunted and cooed? Cute, but not very practical. Now she can tell you that she likes apples and that she wants a hug. (Aw!) She may even be able to tell you what she did during the day, and that little storytelling voice is just so darn adorable.

They’re little detectives

Whenever I lose something, I ask my two-year-old where it is. A lot of times, she really knows. “Have you seen Mama’s sunglasses?” usually leads to a finger point in the right direction. She notices and remembers things that I don’t, which is pretty cool! This is especially useful when she’s hidden something herself, like the old “remote control in the crib” trick.

They beg to help you

Toddlers want to be involved in everything you’re doing, which is totally frustrating when you’re trying to type an email or cook dinner. But really, they want to help. So if your little chef hangs onto your legs in the kitchen, let him whisk a bowl with water or bring you pots and pans that you need from the cabinet. He’ll feel great having “helped cook!” (This is also useful when you want a Diet Coke but aren’t in the mood to stand up. They’ll totally grab one from the fridge and carry it over.)

They need their own plane seat (yes, this is a good thing)

After age two, kids get their own ticket, and their own seat on a flight. And at first, it’s annoying to have to shell out the money for that. But around the 18-month-mark, you realize that the hidden cost is your own comfort and sanity. They’re too big to be on your lap squirming for hours! Now everyone has their own space. Ahhh….

Related Video

They tell jokes

Toddlers are developing a sense of humor, and they _love _to make you laugh. My daughter started to notice different statues of Buddha, and when she spotted a garden gnome in a neighbor’s yard, she promptly identified him as a deity. When I explained that he was called a gnome, she dubbed him “Gnuddha,” and all the adults cracked up. She knows it’s a funny joke, and she tells it often now. Total Gnuddist, that one.

There’s an imagination explosion

When you bought that dollhouse/farm set/play kitchen, your baby probably stared at it and drooled. When would it pay off? Right about now! At age two, kids start to really get into imaginative play, so the little people in the house may be making dinner or taking naps, while the farm animals are jumping the fence. Watching toddlers create worlds inside their minds is magical, isn’t it?

They appreciate the little things

Toddlers don’t need an amusement park or a pony ride to get a thrill (though they’ll enjoy those too) — they can find adventure everywhere. Walk outside with your kid and point out moss, pinecones, little ants… (or skyscrapers, sidewalk cracks and the bricks on buildings, depending on where you live). Kids this age are enchanted with the tiny details of life, especially when you’re with them to tell them about what they’re seeing. You’ll feel like kid again getting to explore it all with them.

They take alone time

The newest phrase my two-year-old has adopted is, “I need space.” She means that she wants to play alone, usually in her room, and she’ll bring a couple of books or a stuffed animal in there with her. I love that magic phrase, because it means that I can actually get a few things accomplished in the 10 to 20 minutes of down time she takes. Dishes: Done! Or maybe I’ll just read a magazine for a few minutes. Happy sigh.

They think you’re a genius

I love the look of total trust and satisfaction that my toddler gives me when I answer questions like, “What’s that?” (a cloud, a blade of grass, a new cup or whatever). That’s right. I know the answer. I’m smart! (When she’s three and starts asking “Why is the sky blue?” then I’m going to have to rely more on Google.)

They remember stuff

Everything that you’ve done from newborn-hood until now has helped your baby feel loved, cared-for and secure. But now kids really remember their experiences — and they resonate with them. Weeks after you visit Grandma, she may still talk about the plane ride, or the blanket in the bedroom or the song Grandma sang at bedtime. Memories are forming, and it’s so sweet and rewarding to know that.

More from The Bump:

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mother reading with baby on rocking chair in nursery room
Inchstones Is the Biggest Parenting Trend for 2024, Pinterest Says
By Wyndi Kappes
black mother holding baby at home
How Black Parents Can Avoid the Trap of Toxic Positivity
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
kwanzaa-gift-guide-HERO
21 Special Kwanzaa Gifts for All of Your Loved Ones
By Ayn-Monique Klahre
ADVERTISEMENT
jennifer garner and her children next to a headshot of jennifer garner on the red carpet
Jennifer Garner on Why “a Little Benign Neglect” Is the Key Parenting
By Wyndi Kappes
baby tooth in child's hand
Toss or Treasure: Jake Johnson Sparks Debate on Keeping Baby's Teeth
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and baby dancing in living room
Kid's Music Ruining Your Spotify Wrapped? These Parents Can Relate
By Wyndi Kappes
36 matching family pajamas for the holidays and beyond-hero
36 Matching Family Pajamas for the Holidays and Beyond
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
gifts-for-pregnant-friend-HERO
42 Gifts for Pregnant Women That Are Cute and Congratulatory
By Martina Garvey
hanukkah gifts hero
The Best Hanukkah Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers and Caregivers
By Cassie Kreitner
gratitude tablecloth for thanksgiving
The Viral Gratitude Tablecloth Tradition You Can Try This Thanksgiving
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
friends giving pregnant woman gifts
45 Best Mom-To-Be Gifts That Celebrate Her
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
mom talking to son
The Parenting Hack Going Viral: Mastering the 'When/Then' Reframe
By Wyndi Kappes
andy cohen and kids
Bravo’s Andy Cohen Shares His Best Piece of Parenting Advice
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
mom and dad holding newborn baby at home
Viral Post Shares How to Raise Your First Baby Like It’s Your Third
By Wyndi Kappes
mombies dancing to raise money this halloween
Meet the “Mombies” Raising Money for Cancer Research
By Wyndi Kappes
kids trick or treating for halloween
These Are the Top 15 States for Trick-or-Treating in 2023
By Wyndi Kappes
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents Hero
36 Festive and Fun Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
By Danielle Halibey
ADVERTISEMENT
Christmas Gifts for Parents Hero
45 Christmas Gifts for Parents on the Nice List
By Martina Garvey
New Dad Gifts-hero
The Best Gifts for New Dads to Suit Any Budget
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
Breast Cancer Awareness Hero
14 Gifts That Give Back for Breast Cancer Awareness
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List