Safe Exploring For Toddlers

As a parent, it is perfectly understandable if you feel torn about letting your child learn and explore and wanting to keep him safe. The thing is to keep it balanced.

Why You Should Let Your Toddler Explore

Exploring is crucial to a toddler’s physical, emotional and social development. Through exploring, the learn more about the world in which they live. Sure it is nice to see plants and trees, but it’s another to actually feel the bark of a tree, or touch the leaves of a plant or smell its flower. You can aid your child’s development by asking questions like “what color is it?” or “is it big or small?”

Allowing your toddler to explore is also one way for him to get enough physical activity. According to the National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE), kids 12- to 36- months old should get:

·         At least 30 minutes of structured physical activity (led by a parent or caretaker)

·         At least 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity (free play).

Safety Precautions

Care for your child’s safety by constant supervision and putting up safety precautions such as baby gates and electrical outlet covers.

Step Back

Close and constant is necessary to keep your toddler safe, but you should still give him room to explore and learn things on his own. So learn to step back a bit and mind your urge to help. For instance, when you are out exploring in your garden, give your child the tools he will need, but do not over-manage the activity. If your child wants to tap stones together, then let him. Intervene only if there is a chance that your child or someone close by could get hurt.

Correct When Needed

If your child does something naughty, unhealthy, destructive or dangerous, such as eating dirt or throwing stones, gently explain to him the dangers of doing such a thing. You should also teach your child about the proper way of using an object. For instance – “crayons are not meant to be eaten; they can only be used for coloring,” or “you can tap stones and twigs together but you can’t throw them at other things or people.” Avoid reacting strongly to a situation. Toddlers often try to push boundaries and not heed your initial requests. If discouraging your toddler gently doesn’t work, distract him other activities or materials.

Do Not Impose Your Will

If you’ve ever tried to bring a toddler to, say a park or department store, you would know that the trip could take any number of detours. A toddler would often stop and pick something up to examine it. Stones, leaves, bugs, vehicles – all of these things are captivating to a young child. You might feel a bit impatient because you want to get to the activity that you’ve planned, but for a toddler this is an activity. So instead of rushing your child, encourage him examine leaves and stones, watch bugs, look at the colors of shop signs and watch vehicles and people boarding them.