| It is a fact of life that some children have behavior | | | | interact with others, who seems unusually aggressive, |
| issues and/or developmental problems that affect both | | | | and who can say few words may need to be seen |
| their quality of life and the family dynamics. So how do | | | | by a professional. |
| you know when it is time to seek the help of a | | | | A 3-year-old can do significantly more than he or she |
| therapist, a behaviorist, or a psychiatrist? Here are | | | | did at 2. By now most can generally take care of |
| some signs to look for: | | | | feeding and hygiene needs with some help. There is |
| If your child is not meeting normal developmental | | | | more language ability at this age, so there is usually |
| milestones, then consider consulting a qualified | | | | less frustration and tantrums because their needs can |
| professional. For a 2-year-old, this means they can | | | | be expressed through words. |
| generally feed themselves with a spoon, can say a | | | | If your 3-year-old is unusually aggressive with |
| few hundred words, and may try to sing and dance. | | | | everyone on a regular basis or shows no remorse or |
| Behaviorally it is normal for a 2-year-old to have | | | | understanding when hurting others, then you may want |
| tantrums when angry, including yelling, crying, kicking | | | | to consult a professional. A 3-year-old has a longer |
| feet and stamping on the floor, and even some | | | | attention span than at 2, but if your child is not able to |
| aggression towards the person holding them. | | | | sit at all for a few minutes or be still long enough to |
| It is also normal for a child at this age to have a very | | | | hear simple directions, then you may want to consider |
| short attention span and like to move from activity to | | | | outside help. |
| activity quickly. A 2-year-old who does not want to | | | | |