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