Toddlers vs. Teenagers On the outside, teenagers and toddler may seem different, but they are actually very similar. I have experienced in raising both, from start to finish. The difference can be easily seen, but the similarities you must look closer. Teenagers being big and have a lot more responsibilities, while toddlers are small and developing their basic skills. Teenagers and toddlers overall need tender love and care, with supervision of course. Hygiene, intelligence, and behavior are more comparable than you would think. Teenagers are not the best at keeping up with their hygiene. They tend to smell of body odor, outside, and musty. Teenagers are still adjusting to the hormonal changes in their body and using hygiene products, such as deodorant. Toddlers usually smell of things they were just getting into. When eating, they smell of the food just consumed. After playing, the toddlers smell like play-doh and crayons. Teenagers and toddlers need their parents to constantly remind them of hygiene. Even though teenagers can bathe themselves, parents have to go through the twenty-one question drill. Toddlers want to bathe themselves; parents let them so they can learn. Parents will go behind the toddler because they are still learning how to wash properly. Toddlers learn with constant questions and exploring. They are finding out how the world works and how do they fit in it. Toddlers look to the parents for knowledge and reassurance. Teenagers are quite the opposite with learning. They tend to find out information through technology or research for themselves. Learning on their own give them confidence about themselves. Teenagers will exhibit being resourceful and independency. Parents will still guide both teenagers and toddlers. Teenagers and toddlers are looking for their parents’ approval and support. When it comes to the behavior of teenagers and toddlers, they both test out parents’ patience and tolerance levels. Toddlers will throw temper tantrums to get their way or act really cute to avoid punishment. There are times parents have to enforce punishment to stop a negative behavior, this goes for teenagers and toddlers. Teenagers will act out when they cannot get their way, or do extra chores to get something they want. They learn with development, it is better to do what something positive versus negative, to get what they want. As you can see, teenagers and toddlers are very similar. They may be years apart but they still need their parent love, guidance and structural upbringing. I love going through the years of development. From toddler to teenager, they have hygiene, intelligence and behavior similarities. They are both going through physical and mental changes in their life. Although, it may seem like they are not the same, they are going for the same goal, which is adulthood.