Helping Your Children Explore Safely because Toddlers try to get into everything.
Parents of toddlers often feel tired, day and night. Just watching your active little person zoom around the house can be exhausting!
Keeping a toddler safe requires constant attention, and sometimes it seems you can't relax for a minute. It is surprising how many dangerous places and objects toddlers can discover.
But the extra work it takes to encourage your child as he explores and learns is worth it. Sometimes you may want to stop your child's need to explore, but remember: exploring is necessary for a growing child.
You won't have to go running after your toddler so often if you get rid of some of the dangers at home. Your toddler is just too young and too active to think about safety. She ignores things that are in the way. Bumps and falls don't stop her. Never leave a child unsupervised. However, there are a few steps to make this easier (source: Grover's Book of Cute Things to Touch by Constance Allen (Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1990).
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Put away anything that your child can easily damage or that can hurt him.
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Use safety gates on stairways and porches.
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Block the way to open, unguarded windows. Fasten screens.
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Cover electric plugs.
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Keep all medicines and poisons (like cleaning products) in a locked cabinet.
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Teach your child how to climb up and go down stairs safely.
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Make safe play areas and provide safe toys.
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Understand that your words won't always stop your child from doing something unsafe. When that happens, take firm action to stop your toddler. Then tell her why you did it.
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Be available to move in instantly when action is needed (for example, around an unfriendly dog, a speeding car, or stairs).
