Toddler's Advice

Santa’s elves make all kinds of toys at the North Pole. From lavish electronic devices to simple board games, those in St. Nick’s employ are a versatile group. Unfortunately, however, not all toys are safe for all age groups. In fact, children under three or four years of age are particularly prone to choking on small objects (they put everything in their mouths!). To avoid dangerous toys, it’s imperative that parents of toddlers closely monitor what Santa places in the stocking and under the tree on Christmas Eve.

When making a purchase for your little one this holiday season, keep a watchful eye by closely inspecting not just the labels, but the toys themselves. Does it appear rugged and able to withstand the rigors of rough play, or does it look as though it could break into small pieces? If so, move on to something else regardless of what the label says.

Labels are good guidelines, but they aren’t foolproof. In fact, some believe that manufacturers intentionally over-label toys to insulate themselves from potential lawsuits. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry. While toys made for children three years of age and younger must, by law, be large enough that they do not present a choking hazard, it’s best to closely inspect them yourself. Some sources suggest taking a 35-millimeter film canister with you. If the toy or parts of a toy will fit into that canister, they say, the gift is not a good choice as it presents a choking hazard. While it’s not scientific and probably isn’t a surefire measuring stick of what is and isn’t too small for your child, it does give you a general idea and help to avoid dangerous toys when doing your holiday shopping.

Aside from choking hazards, be sure to avoid toys that are sharp. Most toys made for children three and younger have smooth, rounded edges. If a toy has sharp or jagged points, it may be a dangerous toy for your toddler.

Despite the fact that hospitals in the United States treat thousands of children each year for toy-related injuries, many people get caught up in the buying frenzy and sometimes forget that what’s hot this year isn’t necessarily what’s safe for toddlers. For example, baby dolls with buttons or small accessories, like miniature bottles, present choking hazards. Toys that plug in to the wall could present a burning hazard. For that reason, if a toy utilizes light and sound it is best to make sure it is battery operated.

If you have a little one at home, here are some gifts that are good ideas for one- and two-year-olds:

* Cloth or plastic books
* Building blocks
* Push and pull toys
* Soft, washable balls, animals, dolls (make sure the
eyes can’t come off and there are no buttons)
* Toy phones

Remember that while Christmas needs to be fun, it also needs to be safe. Sure, you want to get your child the perfect gift. But no gift is perfect unless it is safe and age appropriate. Finally, to avoid dangerous toys for your toddlers, keep in mind that children under three years old, regardless of how safe you deem the toy, need adult supervision when playing with the gifts Santa leaves under the Christmas tree!

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Parents and Teachers are always looking for a fun, easy, and inexpensive art projects for their young children. There are many books available at the library and Parenting or Educator Message Boards available online where you can find some creative and easy art activities for toddlers. In general, infants really have no idea of what they are doing. Although, it is fun to use their little hands, fingers and toes to create special projects to give as gifts to Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and even to mom herself! Older babies do have fun getting their fingers messy and exploring in different types of arts and crafts activities. Most toddlers love art activities and will run to the table at any mention of the words arts and crafts.

Art activities for toddlers can range from the simplest to the most complex. Paints, play dough, stickers, making cards, Christmas Ornaments, fun snack foods, and die cuts are fun ways to explore the world of art with babies and toddlers. Paint and play dough is pretty self explanatory and can be used with age appropriate children. The biggest factor is to watch out for the ones who will eat it. There is a recipe for edible Peanut Butter play dough that is fun to make with this age group though. Another idea is to make your own bubble mixture at home and then to go outside and blow bubbles. Young children love bubbles!

You can use food to make themed snacks. For example, if you are reading the book “Going On A Bear Hunt,” you can use a bear shaped cookie cutter to make bear sandwiches. Little children can help press the cookie cutter onto the bread, meat and cheese to make the sandwiches. On the side you can serve Teddy Graham cookies as well. Making homemade Popsicles is pretty simple to do and many different yummy recipes can be found online to make them. The art activities for toddlers are endless when using food. It just takes a little bit of imagination!

Great art activities for toddlers can be lots of fun and even free. For instance, if you or a neighbor get a new appliance the box can be used for an art project. Cut holes for the windows and door, then give the kids paint, markers, or crayons and let them go crazy decorating their new house. This is a great craft project, especially if you have just read the children’s book “Not A Box” by Antionette Portis. Kids just love to explore their surroundings and use their fingers to create something that they find beautiful. As parents and educators, it is our job to give them the materials that they need to explore the world of art.

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Here are some points to note on safety of toddler before you buy your child clothing:

Ensure that small items attached to clothing are not easily detached or removed. Small items such as buttons, zipper pull, snaps or any decorative sequins should not be easily detach from your child clothing as this poses a choking hazard to young children.

Avoid hazardous items such as drawstrings. Children’s jackets and sweatshirts with drawstrings around the hood or neck of children’s outerwear present a strangulation hazard. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that catch on objects, including playground equipment, fences and tree branches.

Avoid Flammable Loose-Fitting Garments. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns people not to put children to sleep in loose-fitting T-shirts or other over-size clothes made from cotton or cotton blends. These garments can catch fire easily and are associated with 200 to 300 emergency room-treated burn injuries to children annually. Loose-fitting clothing stands away from the body, making contact with an ignition source more likely. Loose-fitting, non-flame-resistant child clothing allows an air space next to the body that helps keep the fire burning, possibly injuring children.

It is safer to put your children in flame-resistant or snug-fitting sleepwear. Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when removed from a small open flame. Snug-fitting garments need not be flame-resistant because they are made to fit closely against a child’s body. Their stretchy fabrics make them comfortable. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily and, even if ignited, does not burn as rapidly because there is little air under the garment to feed a fire.

Check for sharp objects in your child clothing. Decorative items such as pins may get detached causing a puncture wound on your child’s body.

Shoes

Proper toddler shoes are very important to ensure your little ones’ safety as they learn to walk and run. Here are some points to note on safety of children before you buy your child footwear. :

Ensure that small items attached to the shoes are not easily detached or removed Small items such as buttons, buckles or any decorative items should not be easily detach from your child shoes as this poses a choking hazard to young children.

Get the right toddler shoes size. If shoes are too big, your child may be prone to tripping and falling down. If they are too small, his/her toes can be bent backwards and out of shape. There should be a neat fit of the heel into the back of your child’s shoe so that there is no movement there. Have your child walk up and down in the new shoes to check for comfort ability and ensure that it is the right fit. Your toddler shoes should be easy to slip on but never slip-off. Also, make sure that the sole of the shoes are skid resistant

For young children, it is best that the shoes do not use laces. Your child may trip over shoe laces that become undone or long shoe laces that trails over their path. Velcro straps are a good option for the young child because a child can pull them on or off easily themselves and will feel more independent. Some shoes are too heavy for a little child and this may affect the growth and posture of their small little feet as they wears the shoes. Choose a pair that is soft and is compatible to their size.

The most important thing to remember when choosing your toddler shoes is that their feet are still growing. This means that flexibility in the shoe is essential. To test the flexibility of a child’s shoe, grasp the toe of the shoe in one hand and the heel in the other, then bend the toe and heel toward each other. If the shoe bends at the part of the sole directly behind the toes, and not through the center of the shoe, it means that the shoe has a steel arch. A shoe with steel arch support is not suitable for a child as it is almost completely inflexible and will not give a child’s feet room to grow or bend.

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Every time you are with your child, remember to hold his or her hand so that you stay close together. Remind your child that he or she is not suppose to run across the road but always to walk at a steady pace. Give your child a commentary on what you see or do while walking on a street as well as crossing it.
Teach your toddler some of the following unbreakable rules as well:

Remind the toddler never to run into the street such as while chasing after a ball or a pet. Never play along the road, especially near a blind corner and never to talk to strangers. Never wander off alone or go anywhere with strangers. Cross only at traffic lights, zebra crossings and overhead bridges. Look to make sure the street is clear to cross, even if traffic lights show green to cross.

Above all, teach your child how to think and be aware of situations around him/her and knowing the best alternatives during problem situations.

Bed Safety Tips

The transition from crib to toddler bed can be made easier by choosing the right bed for your toddler. Additionally, if you use the same mattress and bedding that your child is used to from his crib, the transition will be easier.

Here are a few pointers:

Make sure the bed is sturdy and not in danger of collapsing. Periodically, check the joints, especially if your child jumps on his bed or if you’re using a metal-framed bed, in which screws are more likely to jostle loose.

Choose a bed that is low to the ground. It’s easier for your toddler to get into, and, should she fall out, the distance to the floor is not great and chances of injury are slim. Place a rug or other padding along the side and open end of the bed for added protection in cushioning falls. Some parents choose to place a futon or mattress directly on the floor at this stage rather than using a bed.

Choose a bed to which guardrails can be easily attached. Choose a simple design. The best bed frames have simple, non-ornamental, head- and foot boards without cutouts or protrusions

Place the bed safely in the room. Be sure to place your toddler’s bed safely away from windows, heating units, wall lamps, and drapery and blind cords. To avoid the risk that your toddler could become trapped between the size of the bed and the wall, place the bed with the headboard, rather than the side, along the wall.

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Bobby Thomas is well know for his articles about toddler development . You can find more articles related to toddler development and child care under the following URL .
discipline toddlers

Dressing up your toddler for Halloween is a lot of fun. Enjoy it while you can. Before you know it your sweet little toddler will be in kindergarten or first grade and will have developed a much stronger opinion on his or her costume choices and you’ll no longer be able to dress him in the costume of your choice. Here are a few ideas for a toddler halloween costume to get you started. Of course there are plenty of other options out there as well. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless.

Pumpkin    

Start with a large orange sweatshirt. Cut eyes and a mouth shape out of black or yellow felt and glue them on the front of the shirt. Put the shirt on your child, fold up the sleeves, then stuff the belly and back area with newspapers or quilt batting to make it look nice and round like a pumpkin. Top it all of with a green cap. You can even cut some leaf shapes out of green felt and glue them to the top of the cap.

Dwarf

Start with earth tone pants and shirt. Brown and dark greens work well. Put your child in some boots as well. Make a simple hat out of felt, similar to a witch’s hat but with a smaller brim. Finish the outfit with some gardening tools. Your little dwarf right out of “Snow White” is ready to go trick or treating.

Sunflower

Dress your child in a green shirt and pants. For smaller children, especially those in colder climates, a one piece pajama-type outfit with feet works well. For the flower part, start with a brown hat or cap. Cut flower petal shapes out of yellow felt and glue them all around the hat. If you’d like you can cut two large leaf shapes out of green felt and glue them at the back of each of the shirt’s sleeves. A little plastic watering can makes a cute pail to carry candy in.

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Would you like to quickly make creative Halloween costume that you and your children will be proud of — for a fraction of the price of store-bought? Susanne Myers has co-authored a book to show you how — no sewing involved. Visit www.ILoveHalloweenCostumes.com to learn more.

Here’s another option for an adorable halloween costume as well.  Have lots of fun, enjoy every minute and stay safe.