More often than not correcting a toddler or young child has to do with a safety issue. Either their personal safety, the safety of another child or the safety of an object in your home. Of course their personal safety is a main priority. If you think parenting is tough try dealing with a toddler in the emergency room because of situation that may have been prevented. When they get hurt most parents feel some sense of guilt anyway but if you could have stopped the behavior, the guilt doubles.
The throwing of toys presents safety issues on all fronts. Sometimes allowing them to throw a soft toy can lead to throwing other toys such as blocks. Young children do not know how to differentiate between what would hurt someone else if thrown and what would not. They are also not old enough to know that their aim isn't very good. I do not think that many parents are happy when a toddler mistakenly hits the TV with a drum or book. A no throwing in the house rule helps stop the need for young children to decide what might be okay and what is not.
They need to be taught not to touch breakable items that are on the tables or counters. There are many heavy or breakable items stored in the kitchen therefore they need to be taught not to go in the kitchen cabinets, "not for you." Some couches are quite tall so they should know not to climb up on the back of the couch, "not safe." A very large percentage of emergency visits are connected to jumping on beds, "not safe, you could fall and get hurt." Do not lean on the screen of a sliding door, "not safe, don't push on the door, it could fall out." Yes, children can be very curious but there are safe ways to satisfy their curiosity. A large pillow on the floor is good for jumping on.
If you don't sit on couch then you are not allowed to be on the couch. I have had to say that a million times over the years as I have had toddlers in my home. Trying to keep a toddler with a broken collar bone still for three or more days is a terrible experience. Having your children sit properly on the couch is not only a safety issue but it teaches them respect for your belongings. It also means that when you are ready to relax in the evening you don't have them jumping all around you on the couch.
Climbing up on kitchen counters may not seem like a big deal but it eliminates another safe place for you to keep certain unsafe items such as medicines out of their reach. I know of a young girl that climbed up on the counter next to the stove and caught her clothes on fire. There have been many cases where children have used the oven door as a step to get to the counter and entire stoves have tipped over on the child. Certain activities should not be allowed for good reasons. There is climbing appropriate playground equipment, it makes more sense to use these not random objects in the home.
I found that teaching my children about safety, not that they didn't get hurt occasionally but I feel it made them more aware of their surroundings. It built their common sense in another area of their life.
I can not tell you how many 7 to 10 year old children I have been with that do not know how to safely cross a street. Don't laugh, I am being totally serious. I have even had a 12 year old walk out in the street without checking both ways, and she has done this on numerous occasions. Many children take the bus or are driven to school instead of walking and are not being taught this elementary skill.
Yes, we want to keep our toddlers away from the street but we also want them to be aware of the danger of stepping into the street. When I take the little ones for a walk in the stroller, whenever we come to an intersection I have them tell me whether it is safe to go or do we need to wait for a car to pass. I even have them look over their shoulder in case a car should be turning from behind us. Drivers seem much less aware of the fact that pedestrians should have the right of way. Many drivers are on the phone or even texting while driving and not paying attention as they should be. I have found this to be especially true on residential streets where they seem to think it is less crowded so actually safer. But the reality is that you never know when there will be a child (that doesn't know how to properly cross the street) or a loose pet that will come flying down the driveway.
Recently, I went out to water my garden. When I went to turn on the hose which is next to the air conditioner I was shocked to see how unsafe the air conditioner is. Yikes, it was running at the time and this very large bladed fan was only covered by a rack that had areas large enough for a small child to put their hand or arm in there, or a stick, or a bat, or a rock,... I think you get the picture. If you have been thinking that your fenced back yard is safe for your children to play in, please take a look at your air conditioning unit. It only takes a second for an accident to happen.
Another place where I have seen many accidents waiting to happen are store parking lots where children are allowed or not stopped from darting ahead of parents. It is not the responsibility of the other drivers to watch out for loose children. Many are older drivers that have been getting shorter over the years and can not see properly over the hood of their cars. Small children are very difficult to see when they are no taller than the hood or trunk of a car. Children need to be taught to hold your hand in the parking lots or they need to remain in the cart until they a safely placed in your vehicle. I have yelled stop on a number of occasions in parking lots to prevent such accidents from happening. Because you are taller and more visible your child should be walking on the inside away from the moving traffic. I can not believe sometimes how close a car will pass by me in a parking lot.
Another safety issue that is not often addressed is children running around with a toothbrush or other long object in their mouth. Should they trip and fall forward as many children do, this could become lodged in their throat. I have had parents say to me " but they like their toothbrush, this means they will take better care of their teeth." It is not a toy and it is not safe to walk around with it hanging out of their mouth. Using it properly is the lesson they need to learn. Should they fall and get it lodged in their throat, do not pull it out it could cause bleeding that can only be stopped by a medical professional.
Yes, accidents are going to happen. The reason they are called accidents is because they are unintentional. But some accidents can be prevented by teaching your toddler and young children that certain activities surrounding safety are not permitted. Yes, children and toddlers fall often, we see lots of bumps and bruises while they learn to ride a bike, roller skate, even run and jump. Teaching your child about the dangers of certain inappropriate behavior can eliminate some bigger more traumatic injuries. It will teach them to use their common sense and not take unnecessary risks.
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