Dealing With Rigidity
You may have noticed that your 2-year-old isn’t exactly the most flexible person in the world. Her little brain is trying to understand how the world works, and once she gets a concept down, she expects it to stay that way. Having things happen the same way every time reassures your preschooler and gives her a confidence boost (”I knew that would happen!”). That’s why she likes to sit in a certain chair or goes bananas when her cracker breaks in two.
Your 2-year-old now
“Again! Again!” The Teletubbies have this mantra for a reason: A hallmark of this age is repetition. Your little one may want to eat the same things again and again, wear the same clothes day after day, or do things in the exact same order. Remember that he’s trying to make sense of the world, and keeping certain things unvarying is his way of exercising a little control in all the hubbub of life. Rituals provide comfort.
That said, rigidity can get a little hard to live with. Indulge such behaviors when it’s really not a big deal. But if your preschooler’s demand is unreasonable or inappropriate (wanting to watch TV during dinner, ordering a guest to get out of “Daddy’s chair”), refuse calmly but firmly. You might trigger a tantrum, but ultimately you’re the boss.
from here
