Expert explains why toddlers love saying 'no' and it makes perfect sense to parents everywhere

If you’ve ever spent time with a toddler, you might have heard the word “no” more times than you can even remember. Be it their mealtime or just offering a warm hug, toddlers don’t think twice before saying no. Not just this, at times, even when parents go the extra mile to make their kids happy, these little ones respond with no gratitude, leaving many grown-ups puzzled. In one such instance, a Florida mom, Samantha Afran, who goes by the username @sammy.in.miami on TikTok, shared a short video clip capturing her son, Ezra's reaction when she asked him if he enjoyed their trip to a children’s museum.

The text over the video reads, “POV: You arranged your entire day to take your toddler to that place they’ve been begging to go.” In the video, Afran asks, “Did you have fun?” and Ezra casually responds with an unexpected “No,” leaving his mom confused. In the comments, viewers shared their relatable experiences with their kids. One TikTok user, @februaryair22, commented, “I took my toddler to the library, McDonald’s, and then let him watch his favorite show. Before bed, he told me he had a ‘sad, boring day’.”

Another person, @jaydasparks7, commented, “Seriously, every time I take my kids to the pool, museum, trampoline park, splash pad, whatever. They say they had no fun and want to go home. I’m thinking if I got to do these things as a kid, I would have been ecstatic.” Similarly, @katieandthesunshine chimed in and shared, “I stopped asking because the answer was always no. Now I ask what his favorite part was, and that usually gets a positive answer.” @mo_maggie_mo_problems also said, “I would have immediately started crying. I’m not ready for the rejection.”

A family doctor and resilience expert, Deborah Gilboa, explained the reason behind toddlers responding with a "no" to most questions asked by their parents. Gilboa claims that toddlers experience the world in the present moment, unlike adults, who often dwell on the past. She said, "They feel however they feel right that second." The doctor also explained that, unlike older children and adults, toddlers can’t think about the past or compare it to what’s happening in the present. “You cannot ask them to go back, even 10 or 15 minutes, and expect a cogent answer about how they were feeling compared to other experiences they’ve had,” Gilboa said, as reported by TODAY.

Meanwhile, sometimes, even when parents try to teach them something or correct them, toddlers can be stubborn and refuse to listen. For instance, one cheerful toddler became a TikTok sensation after his mom, Mia Ariannaa (@mia.ariannaa), shared a video of him at the supermarket happily greeting every stranger passing by with a friendly “Hi,” completely ignoring her instructions not to do so. Mia even runs behind him to stop him, but he keeps going. She eventually puts him in the shopping cart, which makes him a bit upset, but after a while, he again starts greeting every passerby.