From the Guidelines
To address risky behavior in a 2-year-old, establish consistent boundaries and supervision while ensuring a safe environment, as this approach is crucial in preventing child maltreatment and promoting healthy development 1.
Key Strategies
- Childproof your home by securing furniture, covering electrical outlets, locking cabinets with harmful substances, and installing safety gates at stairs.
- When your child engages in risky behavior, respond calmly with brief, clear explanations about safety using simple language they can understand.
- Redirect their energy to safe alternatives that satisfy their natural curiosity and need for physical activity.
- Maintain a consistent daily routine with regular meals, naps, and bedtimes, as overtired children are more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
Importance of Parent-Child Interaction
- Pediatricians play a significant role in preventing child maltreatment by understanding the situations that commonly trigger maltreatment and identifying factors that make a child more vulnerable 1.
- Factors such as emotional/behavioral difficulties, chronic illness, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities can increase a child's risk of maltreatment 1.
- Parents' low self-esteem, poor impulse control, substance abuse, and depression can also contribute to child maltreatment 1.
Additional Considerations
- Exposure to television and other media is not recommended for children younger than 2 years, and limitations on media use should be discussed with parents 1.
- Pediatricians should promote social-emotional well-being, address behavior concerns, and identify psychosocial risks for toxic stress, such as child abuse and neglect 1.
- If risky behaviors persist or seem extreme, consult your pediatrician to rule out underlying issues affecting your child's behavior or development 1.
From the Research
Risky Behavior in 2-Year-Olds
There are no direct research papers to assist in answering this question. However, some studies provide information on behavioral health disorders in children and the role of pediatricians in diagnosing and treating these disorders.
- The study 2 found that pediatricians estimated that 15% of children in their practices had a behavioral health disorder, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being the most frequent diagnosis.
- Another study 3 found that preschool-age children with ADHD and co-existing conditions were more likely to receive behavioral therapy (BT) than children without co-existing conditions.
- The study 4 reviewed data on cognitive behavioral therapy for anxious youth and found it to be a potentially powerful antidote to pediatric anxiety disorders.
- A study 5 found that pediatric residents and recent graduates reported low levels of perceived competence in assessing and treating behavioral and mental health conditions in children.
- The study 6 found that integrating behavioral health services into pediatric primary care can increase access to quality behavioral health services and improve provider satisfaction.
Behavioral Health Disorders in Children
- ADHD is a common behavioral health disorder in children, and pediatricians frequently diagnose and treat it 2.
- Anxiety and depression are also common behavioral health disorders in children, and cognitive behavioral therapy can be an effective treatment 4.
- Pediatricians may not always feel competent in assessing and treating behavioral and mental health conditions in children, highlighting the need for additional education and training 5.
Role of Pediatricians in Behavioral Health
- Pediatricians play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating behavioral health disorders in children 2.
- Integrating behavioral health services into pediatric primary care can improve access to quality care and increase provider satisfaction 6.
- Pediatricians may need additional education and training to feel competent in assessing and treating behavioral and mental health conditions in children 5.