Tantrums, stubbornness and endless cries of "no" are not signs that a child is difficult, they are normal milestones in healthy development, according to Specialist Pediatrician at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Dr Sharron Makafui Aglobitse.

Speaking at the Convergence of Mothers, Dr Aglobitse challenged the long-held description of toddlers as being in their "terrible twos," arguing that the label unfairly portrays a critical stage of childhood development in negative terms.

"Personally, as a pediatrician, I don't like to say the terrible twos," she told mothers. "I don't like attaching negative words to stages of children's development because I believe the words we speak over children matter. Why not call them the terrific twos?"

According to her, toddlers are not intentionally being difficult. Instead, they are discovering independence, testing boundaries and learning how to navigate the world around them.

"They already feel like they are adults," she said with a smile. "They want to wear their clothes themselves, they want to welcome visitors, they want to do everything on their own, even when they are still figuring it all out."

That growing desire for independence, she explained, often results in tantrums, emotional outbursts and persistent resistance whenever parents tell them "no."

"You cannot win an argument with a toddler," she joked. "Whether you are in church, at a meeting or in public, they don't care. If they decide to throw a tantrum, they will."

Rather than viewing such moments as evidence of poor behaviour, Dr Aglobitse urged parents to see them as opportunities to patiently teach discipline, emotional regulation and healthy boundaries.

She stressed that saying "no" to children is not harmful and should not be avoided simply to prevent tears or public embarrassment.

"I don't know any child who has died because their parent told them no," she remarked. "Children need boundaries. If you don't teach them that they cannot always have everything they want, they'll struggle later in life."

The pediatrician also encouraged parents to establish routines from infancy, describing consistency as one of the most effective tools for raising emotionally secure children.

Whether it involves feeding, bedtime or daily activities, she said predictable routines help children understand expectations and reduce unnecessary behavioural challenges.

"Routines are very important, and the earlier you introduce them, the better," she explained. "Even as newborns, children can begin learning patterns that will help them as they grow."

Drawing from her own experience as a mother of twins, Dr Aglobitse recounted how she intentionally introduced sleep routines early because returning to work made uninterrupted rest essential for both her family and her patients.

"I had to sleep-train my children early," she said. "By six months, they were sleeping through the night because I knew I also needed to function well as a mother and as a doctor."

Dr Aglobitse also addressed one of the most common frustrations among parents of toddlers picky eating.

She argued that many feeding challenges begin much earlier than parents realise and are often linked to delayed introduction of different textures and family meals during infancy.

"When God gives you a child, He gives you a blank slate," she said. "How you introduce food, routines and discipline helps shape the child."

She encouraged expectant and breastfeeding mothers to eat a wide variety of healthy family meals, explaining that babies are exposed to flavours during pregnancy and breastfeeding, making it easier for them to accept those foods later in life.

"If you want your child to enjoy your family's meals, start introducing those flavours early," she advised. "Don't wait until they are already in that strong 'no' phase before expecting them to suddenly accept unfamiliar foods."