During a crisis, how might toddlers typically show their stress?

Toddlers are particularly vulnerable to stress due to their limited coping mechanisms and understanding of complex emotions. In times of crisis, they may revert to earlier behaviors as a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings they are experiencing. This regression can manifest in various forms, such as returning to thumb-sucking, bedwetting, or increased clinginess. It is a response that allows them to seek comfort in familiar actions that might provide a sense of safety and control when they perceive their environment as chaotic or threatening.

In contrast, during a crisis, engaging in constructive play, developing new skills, or becoming more socially active are generally seen as signs of growth and adaptation rather than typical responses to stress. These behaviors usually indicate a healthy coping mechanism rather than a reaction to distress, which is why regression is the most accurate representation of how toddlers typically display their stress during such challenging times.