As your child grows older and starts to develop more of their personality, you may begin to wonder: what’s normal vs. what’s abnormal. This is especially true for first-time parents. You may read articles or books, perhaps you see it from children in your neighborhood.

When should my child talk?

When should my child start to read?

Why isn’t my child getting along with other children?

It’s important to remember, at any age, that children are individuals and that they all develop on their own time. Some children may pick up milestones quicker than others. This is also normal.

If your toddler has suddenly started to show aggressive or challenging behavior, here’s how to best deal with it.

What is normal toddler behavior?

Between the ages of 18-24 months, your child’s development starts to increase in language and relational skills. Many children are getting into a more independent phase and they are growing increasingly curious about the world around them. 

Mobility becomes more stable and many toddlers see a huge increase in their vocabulary.

At this stage, your child is also starting to become more emotionally connected to their surroundings. And with that also comes a new display of emotions and feelings.

Believe it or not, even those so-called aggressive or challenging toddler behaviors are also expected. 

How to handle aggressive toddler behavior

If your toddler starts hitting others or if your toddler starts biting others, you will need to start discipline techniques.

Trust me, it’s really easier than it sounds and discipline does not involve yelling or hitting. Even though it may seem that your stubborn toddler is challenging you at every turn, it’s important to remember that they are learning through every experience. Where it may seem like a strong willed toddler to you, it’s really just your toddler learning about the boundaries that they have.

When to worry about toddler behavior?

If you feel that your toddler is not responding to discipline techniques, one of the biggest things that you can do is stay patient and to keep trying. Just because it’s not sinking in right now, doesn’t mean it won’t work in the future. And, of course, you need to remember: your toddler is a toddler. They are not developmentally wired to handle certain things just yet.

But, by being consistent and establishing routines, you are helping your toddler to gain control over their environment.

This sense of control helps to increase your toddler’s independence and provides them with much needed predictability. 

Even the most challenging of toddler behavior will eventually go away or at least have a way to be dealt with properly. And as your child gets older, these behavioral issues will decrease.

Is it normal toddler behavior or autism?

However, if you are still worried about your child’s development and whether or not their behavior is appropriate, you’ll want to take a look at the early signs of autism. I also have a new diagnosis workbook that may be of use to you so you can track your child’s development.