I'm looking for a new adjective

Oh I already get those "I'm going to tell daddy because you aren't my friend anymore"

I thought it was something she picked up at school

Brilliant LizeP!!!!

I think it is a perfect desription. Everything is in Black and white, they either cover you with kisses or curse you with hateful words! Their emotions are RAW, when they feel hurt, sad, happy or whatever it is in the most concentrated form possible! The best hollywood actors can take a few lessons from 3 year olds! The most saucey soap opera doesn't know anything about drama compared to a 3 year old.

For my three year old, it is definately "theatrical threes".
Everything is SO exagerated - she doesn't love me when she can't have her way .. she won't be my friend anymore if she can't have ice cream... the list just goes on.

I am not currently in a very good place with regards to my 3 year old (and 2 months).
I hate negative connectations with kids, but currently "terrifying threes" sounds too mild too me!

I had no idea what would unleash just after her third birthday! I believe the sudden change in behaviour must be due to the fact that she started a new nursery school that is a more structured environment.

The powerstruggles and the tantrums intensity doesn't even come close to anything I have seen during the "terrible two's!" The babysense book confirmed that the third year is defnitely more challenging....

Each child is different, so I don't believe because this was our experience that it is the norm. Maybe I didn't put enough structure in place when she was 2 years old. Or it could just be her personality (she is very strong willed).

Marijke, I will try my best to think of a more positive adjective....

Yeah, I love the age of 2, it's so super sweet and the sweet moments far outweigh the 'bad' ones. I mean, yes she pushed the boundaries, but that's to be expected. Good thing I read all those books on how to handle tantrums while being pregnant

I like terrific two's, just what goes with 3?

Hi there

i have to agree - there's a terrible stigma attached to perfectly normal behaviour for a toddler that age...

So how about the "Tantalising Two's" - that way the spin is on the excitement of the phase - excitement of learning about everything around them! And the enticingness of trying everything new.

I must say i am loving this phase in my daughter's life! Her mind is like a sponge, and she is so eager to learn about EVERYTHING! She picks things up remarkably quick for her age!

Will let you know about an adjective for the 3's

Hi Marijke

I dont have any answers for you as I'm just going into the 2's.
But thank you for posting this I agree there's an awful stigma attached to terrible two's and terrifying 3's. It really sets the expectations of what a 2 year old will be like into an extremely negative view rather than accepting that certain of their short comings ie tantrums and not sharing well etc are part of the age they are at development wise and we cannot expect more from them, and that certainly doesn't make them terrible, just TWO!