| It's amazing how fearless toddlers can be. Their | | | | household items. A classic story is the physician who |
| innocence about the world around them allows them | | | | removed a nickel from the nose of a five-year-old! |
| to pick up objects that we know are best left alone. | | | | This is a good time to teach your toddler that loose |
| They will put all sorts of things in their mouths, poke | | | | items and their orifices isn't a good match. |
| at others, prod at some, and try to take equipment | | | | Outside, toddlers think nothing of touching and/or |
| or toys apart while you, the adult, cringe in worry of | | | | picking up things out of curiosity that would make an |
| what's to come of this open curiosity. Fortunately, | | | | adult shriek! Bugs, worms, plants - nothing's safe from |
| most of these worrying habits cause no harm to the | | | | a four-year-old sleuth. If you live in the south, you |
| toddler or none of us would have survived our | | | | know that Mistletoe grows abundantly on trees much |
| parents' worry past kindergarten! | | | | like moss. Kids are drawn to this pretty parasite and |
| However, there are some situations that are | | | | have no idea that, if ingested, it's deadly poison! |
| dangerous or could even prove fatal for the | | | | Jimsonweed is a common, rather pretty, roadside |
| unsuspecting toddler. Inside and outside of the house, | | | | herb that causes intense hallucinations and psychotic |
| a toddler requires constant supervision to keep them | | | | behavior if chewed. These are just two examples of |
| safe from the very world around them and the | | | | common plant hazards; teach your child never to put |
| myriad troubles they can get themselves into. A | | | | anything in his/her mouth that you haven't okayed. |
| toddler has no notion of what is safe and what isn't, | | | | Bugs are generally harmless if eaten, but it's not a |
| so it's up to the adult to watch for these dangers. | | | | good idea to take chances. |
| Inside your home, everybody knows about covering | | | | Teach your toddlers never to touch a snake, lizard, |
| electric sockets, stoves, and keeping chemicals and | | | | turtle, toad, or any other creature of the outdoor |
| medicines out of children's reach. But your home is | | | | world unless an adult is present. While most of these |
| beset with dangers you probably haven't thought | | | | critters are harmless, toddlers don't know a garden |
| about. You know how dogs like to drink out of | | | | snake from a copperhead! Alligator snapping turtles |
| toilets? So do toddlers! There must be something | | | | can whack off a toddler's tiny finger in a split second. |
| innately fascinating about toilet bowls that lures dogs | | | | If you live in a rural area, it's imperative that you |
| and children. Try keeping the lid down and the | | | | teach your child to leave outdoor citizens alone! If |
| bathroom door shut. Your dog may be unhappy, but | | | | you live near a beach, teach your toddler that sea |
| your child will be germ-free. | | | | urchins, crabs, and jellyfish can hurt them despite |
| Toddlers are also drawn to pet food. Fish food, bird | | | | their harmless and fascinating appearances. |
| seed, dried dog food - toddlers, with their perfectly | | | | Endless curiosity is part of the charm of watching a |
| reasonable logic, think that if it's okay for the pets to | | | | child grow up. Through children, we get a second |
| eat, it must be okay for them to eat! After all, pets | | | | chance to see the world through new eyes. |
| eat human food, so why can't we eat animal food? | | | | Toddlers, in turn, get to see the world through adult |
| Try gently reminding your toddler that animal food is | | | | eyes as we teach children how to temper curiosity |
| only okay for animals, not for people. Be prepared | | | | with caution and point out that sometimes, fun things |
| for that ever-popular question, "But WHY?" | | | | can be harmful. Be patient, let children learn, and be |
| There are dozens of choking hazards in your home. | | | | there to keep them from getting into trouble with |
| Rubber bands, paper clips, twisty-ties from bread | | | | their explorations. You will always worry about your |
| wrappers, coins, even food items like chips and | | | | children, no matter what age they might be, but for |
| crackers can be hazardous. If you were to interview | | | | the time being, you can do your best to show them |
| a hundred ER physicians, most of them would tell | | | | the difference between safe and sorry. |
| you stories about clashes between little kids and | | | | |