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