小新新已經正式進入一個什麼都說"不要"的階段。"要不要出去玩?""不要!"，"要不要吃飯?""不要!"，"要不要媽媽講故事給你聽?""不要!"，"小新冷冷要不要穿外套?""不要!"。
拋出任何一個疑問句，小傢伙就會在一秒鐘內回答不要。雖然他偶爾會想一想發現不太對，之後再來更改他的答案，但是光是這樣的行為模式，就足以讓照顧他的大人抓狂。英文裡對這個時期的孩子有一個特別的稱呼，叫做"Terrible Twos"，網路上，看到一個媽媽描寫她兩歲的雙胞胎女兒的言行舉止，實在是讓我在電腦前笑到眼淚都掉出來又心有戚戚焉!他說早上問女兒要不要尿尿，女兒說"不要!昨天尿過了"，要給女兒穿襪子，"不要，我要穿有麋鹿的襪子"，而事實上他們家根本沒有麋鹿襪子。諸如此類的行為，我幾乎可以預見到未來的幾個月就會發生在我們家小新的身上，只是為什麼這段時期會如此呢?
我找到了一篇報導，還沒有找到他引用的研究原文，先把原文節錄於下(出處:http://www.bounty.com/Your-toddler/Study-explains-science-behind-the-terrible-twos.news/18477789)
Study explains science behind 'the terrible twos'
21 Feb 2008
Children begin to demonstrate goal-orientated behaviour in response to expected outcomes from the age of three, new research suggests.
A study conducted at the University of Cambridge found that children aged 32 months and older act in relation to the values they place on the anticipated outcomes of their behaviour, showing the beginnings of the child developing behavioural autonomy.
The findings showed that by the age of three toddlers are able to pursue specific, more abstract goals outside of what they can directly sense.
According to the authors, "the period between two and three years of age brings about a transition in behavioral control from stimulus-outcome learning to fully intentional goal-directed action".
By internalising their control over certain events, toddlers can "act in ways that will help them reach the goals they value most".
Previous studies have also revealed that goal-orientated, intentional behaviour tends to develop in children between the age of two and three, explaining the significance of the 'terrible twos'.
換句話說，大約32個月以後的小孩，才能夠預期自己的行為會有什麼樣的結果，而因此在事前決定是否要有這樣的行為。在此之前，都是stimulus-outcome learning，在我們給我刺激之後，不管三七二十一的先作反應，之後再學習這樣的反應是否恰當。我想，下次小新總是說不要的時候，我應該更能夠心平氣和了!
