The toddler age group is generally considered to start at one year old and come to a close when a child turns 3. “There are no strict upper limits, but we consider toddlers one to 3 and preschool 3 to 5,” says Dina DiMaggio, MD, a pediatrician and official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Interestingly enough, the term toddler comes from the 19th century and is derived from the Scottish verb ‘toddle,’ which means "to run or walk with short, unsteady steps"—quite an accurate description of one- and two-year-olds. Just like how memes capture the essence of everyday life, the term "toddler" perfectly encapsulates this charming yet clumsy stage of early childhood development.

At this stage, a child is just beginning to grasp the sense of who they are. Reaching various milestones and behavioral developments is a natural part of it. From 1 to 2 years old, toddlers begin to hone their fine and gross motor skills, such as walking, finding hidden objects, pointing to things when they’re named, and sorting shapes and colors. 

"Toddler’s vocabulary is expanding as well as being able to reference themselves along with “mommy” and “daddy.” They are also able to start seeing themselves as individuals amongst others," says Child Development Specialist Ilene Beth Miller, M.S. Ed., to Bored Panda.

At the end of toddlerhood, children tend to go through a surge of independence. This is often known as the "terrible twos"—a time when they start to exhibit challenging behaviors as they test boundaries and seek autonomy.

"This stage for toddlers centers around a sense of self. Behavior can be misinterpreted, and thus the “terrible twos” are a result of what parents may make reference to," explains Miller.

At this point, toddlers typically start playing with peers, know more than 200 words, and use two to three to form a sentence. They also begin displaying problem-solving skills, understand cause and effect, and learn their first name and age.

Along with newfound skills and independence, there comes an outpour of tantrums. This is totally standard, as it’s largely because they understand and feel more than they can express using words, often leading to frustration. There’s a heightened chance of them happening when kids are tired, hungry, or uncomfortable.

Miller also mentions that something else parents might expect is their kid always saying "no." "The child is starting to realize that they have some autonomy and independence," she says.

Toddlers can exhibit more aggressive behaviors like screaming, running away, shoving, hitting, biting, and pulling hair, too. "These are the “by-products” of a toddler learning how to explore the world, lack of self-control. They are learning language skills in addition to how they process feelings that are bigger than themselves at that moment," Miller explains.

“By age three, the child’s brain is actually twice as active as an adult’s. It has some 15,000 synapses or connections per neuron, many more than in the adult brain,” says Alison Gopnik, a cognitive psychologist at the University of California. This means that a toddler is processing a lot of information daily. It’s important to keep this in mind and remain understanding when they express their big emotions through meltdowns or tantrums.

To avoid such challenging behavior, it’s a good idea to give positive attention and reward the little ones when they exhibit positive behavior. Parents should also give toddlers some control over some things, like choosing between apple or orange juice and brushing their teeth before or after taking a bath.

To further support their independence, it can be helpful to offer them chores around the house, like throwing away pieces of trash, cleaning up spills, letting them transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer, unloading the dishwasher, helping to fold laundry, or setting the table for dinner.

Miller advises teaching a child the language required to communicate his or her needs. "They also need to learn and practice problem-solving skills," she adds. Consistency is equally important as well. "Be consistent in making sure that your child’s challenging behaviors are no longer effective."

Lastly, parents’ best bet is to keep them busy by visiting zoos and child-friendly museums, going to the park, or reading together. However, patience is key when encouraging them to expand their curiosity. “Try to allow space to get into your toddler’s mind to see what they’re thinking and experiencing, and try to see the world with the same wonder they do. They have a lot to teach us,” says psychologist Dan Peters, PhD.