On the Move
Toddlers - it's hard to imagine a more fitting name for this
stage of development. Between the ages of 1 and 3, toddlers are
literally scooting away from babyhood in search of new adventures.
They're learning to talk, to walk and run, and to assert their
independence. For many in this age group, "outside" and
"play" are becoming common requests.
As a parent, you're focused on keeping your little one safe.
Supervision and safety precautions, such as gates and electrical
outlet covers, are important.
But you'll also want to offer your toddler chances to
explore. That means close supervision but with opportunities
to enjoy different environments. From a walk in the woods to a
trip to a museum, parents can give kids the space and freedom to
investigate, which is an important part of helping them grow.
Why Explore?
Exploring the inside and outside world - with supervision, of
course - is important for toddlers' emotional, social, and
physical development. They learn more about the world and how it
works. It's one thing to see an orange, but it's another to
hold it in your hand, feel its cool, smooth surface, smell its
fragrance, maybe even taste it. That development is all the
better if you ask questions: What color is it? Is it big or
little?
Exploring also gives toddlers a chance to work on important
motor skills. Whether it's kicking a ball or climbing stairs,
they can persist until they get it right. Doing so not only adds
skills, it boosts their sense of confidence and competence. In
other words, they begin to think: "I can do it!"
Letting kids explore is one way to see that toddlers get enough
daily physical activity. Exploring fits well in that free-play
category below. For kids 12- to 36-months-old, current guidelines
from the National Association for Sports & Physical Education
(NASPE) recommend:
- at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity
(adult-led)
- at least 60 minutes unstructured physical activity (free
play)
Ideas for Exploring Inside
Possibilities for indoor amusement are endless; here are just a
few:
- Mirror, mirror.
At this stage, kids learn to recognize themselves in pictures or
mirrors. Securely set up a mirror at eye level and let your child
explore his or her own face. Ask "Where's your
nose?" or "Can you open your mouth?" Fill a small
photo album with pictures of relatives and friends that you can
look through together or let your child look at on his or her
own. Toddlers also enjoy imitating the behavior of others. Try
playing physical or verbal imitation games.
- Kid-friendly cabinets.
Turn some low-lying cabinets into exploration shelves, stacked
with things a toddler can pull out, bang together, and shake
around. Though the items are child-safe, be sure to
supervise.
- Tactile toys.
Toddlers love to use their sense of touch. Set your older toddler
up with some Play-Doh (store-bought or homemade), finger paint,
or other age-appropriate materials that can safely
be squeezed, patted, poked, and prodded. Younger toddlers
will like wrapping paper, wax paper, or textured toys that are
fun to touch and crinkle.
- Household toy box.
To encourage imagination, create a toy box with dolls, safe
housekeeping items like clean sponges or brushes, dress-up
clothes, and toy telephones (without dangerous cords). Plastic
containers with lids, plastic cups and plates, and just about
anything you can stack, pile, fill and empty, or nest also make
great toys for toddlers.
- Climbing mount staircase.
Many toddlers like to climb stairs. Go up and down together on
carpeted stairs, but be sure to replace gates when you are done.
On flat ground, depending on your child's age and abilities,
practice walking backwards or on tiptoes. Imitate animals (walk
like a penguin, jump like a kangaroo, etc.) or dance to
music.
Outside Exploring
- Play ball.
Have a variety of balls around to play with. During the toddler
years, kids learn to kick, throw, and catch balls.
- Beach it.
Even just in the backyard, water and sand are great tactile
attractions for toddlers. Create a water table or use a small
basin or bucket to float boats, use other water toys, and splash
around. Create a sandbox or take kids to the beach to let them
feel sand on their toes and fingers. Always supervise kids around
water, and dump out water from containers when you're
done. Be sure to cover sandboxes when not in use to keep pets and
other animals from contaminating them.
- Examine nature.
Encourage your child to pick up leaves and rocks, feel the bark
on trees, and collect bugs.
- Chalk it up.
Sidewalk chalk comes in big sizes, perfect for the toddler grip.
Their "drawings" are abstract at best, but they'll
delight in watching their scribblings appear.
- Make a lunch date.
Group expeditions that bring a bunch of toddlers together in an
open space -a park, gym, recreation center, or someone's
backyard - can be fun for adults
and
kids. The kids might not interact much at this age, but
they're learning to and are eager to see other faces and
kids.
Tips for Safe and Happy Exploration
Supervise, but step back.
Pay attention to your urges to help. After providing
the materials your child needs, fight the urge to
overmanage the activity. If your child wants to bang blocks
together, don't intervene unless there's the chance that
someone might get hurt.
Correct, when necessary.
If your child does something dangerous, unhealthy, or destructive -
walking with pens, eating crayons, or throwing stones, for example
- gently instruct him or her about the proper use of the object:
"Chairs are for sitting, not standing" or "You can
bang the spoon on the pot, but it's not for hitting other
things or people." Try not to react more strongly than the
situation calls for. Toddlers often will push the boundaries and
ignore your initial request. If gently dissuading them doesn't
work, try to distract them with other activities and items.
Remember: "It's all about the
journey."
Anyone who's tried walking a child to the library or a
friend's house knows that the journey there is full of
distractions and stops. Kids often want to examine everyday items
most of us overlook. Bugs, rocks, lawn ornaments, fallen leaves,
parked cars - they're all fascinating to toddlers. Encourage
them to touch bark, examine twigs, watch spiders, or look at the
colors of lights and shop signs, watch doors opening and closing,
trucks idling, and people boarding buses.
As parents, you might feel impatient to get busy and get your
child to the activity you've planned. You want to get started
"doing something." But to kids, this exploration
is
doing something. Rather than rushing along, take a deep breath and
make new discoveries together.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: February 2009
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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