Is it normal for toddlers to test their limits?

Babies begin exploring by nine months. They start putting toys in their mouth to learn about them. By the time they are toddlers, they spend a great deal of time exploring. They test the world around them, their own abilities and the limits to their parents’ rules. When children are mobile and can walk, this testing and exploring can become very challenging.

Parents need to protect children from harm during this stage. They are at risk for poisoning, falling down steps and off furniture and getting an electric shock. Sometimes when a parent rescues the child from danger, the child becomes angry or aggressive. Often a child goes right back to the danger, making her seem defiant. That can make the parent lose patience or become outraged and hit the child.

Sometimes a child is well behaved around others and only tests limits when his parents are around. This is because he feels most comfortable with them. However, because it looks like he is deliberately disobeying them, his parents may overreact.