how would you keep toddlers safe yet let them explore?
966434
Providing a safe environment is number 1.  Then let them explore through arts and crafts.  Like making bubbles with different size wands, or finger painting.  Take them on a nature hike and point out things of interest and perhaps collect a few things and make a poster of them.  How about using an inflatable pool and fill it with sand, let them create a castle....Clay is always fun, and modeling clay never dries out.  Plus taking them to the library and having them explore through  books increase their interest in reading ( very valuable) and allows for a protected environment.\n\nTry some Kitchen Science experiments too.  These are cheep and fun!
423352
One and two year olds learn in the context of safe, secure and responsive relationships. By your careful noticing of what they say and do, and your caring, sensitive responses, you teach them that they are valued, that the world is safe and that their needs are going to be met. That way they learn to recognize their own feelings and also learn to recognize and care about others'.  This foundation of social and emotional skills provides the basis for their capacity to develop their abilities for language and literacy.  They will enjoy hearing songs and stories from you and reading books together. This will help them learn a lot of important literacy and language skills, as will your natural every day conversations with them.  Seeing you read other things like instructions, articles, etc will help show them how important reading is.  Counting with them in the course of playing, letting them experiment objects (for example, pouring blocks from one container to another) will help them with early numeracy skills.  One of the most important things you can do is to follow their lead in play. When they want to build with blocks, watch, comment on what they are doing and then add something to make it just a little more challenging and interesting, but with out taking over the play.\n\nYour everyday nurturing care will teach them a lot. Your conscious use of every day opportunities to directly experience language and mathematical concepts (counting steps as you walk up; counting how many children are in the dramatic play area; letting children help set the table for lunch and count how many place settings for how many children, etc) will help them with their school readiness skills.
657637
Find open-ended toys... typically toys that don't have batteries. Toys that have more than one use. Frankly I'm a bit skeptical about the true value of Leap Frog for a child that young. \n\nWaldorf & Montessori style toys are a good example of open-ended toys that will encourage your child to use his/her imagination and inguinity. Play silks are great as are other simple objects. Kids who have a few toys often exhibit more imagination than those who have piles of them. A friend of mine recently observed this own phenomena when she packed up most of her son's toys in preparing to move. \n\nLess (or no) TV is better ... esp. at that young age. If you are going to let your toddler watch any TV at all it should be something with a redeaming value... like what they have on PBS ... Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, etc. I've heard experts recommend that you limit it to one hour per day or less. \n\nSome good web-sites for Waldorf Toys are:\n\nwww.bellalunatoys.com\nwww.magicgarden.com\nwww.atoygarden.com\nwww.fairycove.com  (beautiful hand-dyed play silks)\nwww.willowtreetoys.com\nwww.islandtreasuretoys.com\n\nKids need to be engaged in the real world in order to stimulate more brain development and encourage real-life, hands-on learning. You can turn every day activities into an opportunity to learn... from a walk in the neighborhood (you can talk about what you see from people, plants, neighborhood animals, insects, the weather, etc.), a trip to the grocery store (talk about what you're buying & what you can do with different foods, talk about why you choose one thing over another, explain why healthy foods are good for his/her body, let him/her help by putting something in the basket or helping you to put produce in a bag), let them help you in the kitchen by "washing" vegetables, stirring, helping to meassure, dumping premeassured ingredients into the bowl or pot, etc. We use a step ladder with our daughter in the kitchen. She loves to watch and "help." Sometimes she will pick up a sponge or rag and try to help me clean. It's so fun to see what they pick up on!  :)\n\nThere's a great show on PBS (KCET in LA) called "A Place of Our Own" that has tons of great ideas. They also have a web-site: \n\nwww.aplaceofourown.org\n\nThey also have a DVD series if you can't get it on your local PBS channel. But, do check out the web-site!!!\n\nPlaydough (you can make it yourself easily & cheaply), paints & paper, a bowl of beans or flour, etc. and something to scoop with, something to make music with ... from pots and pans to bells that they can shake to a drum or kiddie xylophone, or whatever you have laying around the house. You can make noise-makers for your child as well. Sometimes the simplest of objects turn out to be the ones with the most play & educational value.\n\nMusic Together classes are also great for developing music, language & future math proficiency. Other children's music classes may offer a similar benefit. But, MT uses a method that combines fun songs, body movements & music theory through harmonics & simple scales ... for instance they might sing "ba ba ba ba" in a harmonic scale and then ask the kids & parents to repeat it. \n\nIt's great because it works with where the kids are developmetally. It's okay if the child wants to get up and dance or run around when others are sitting and it's okay if the child doesn't want to give the instrument back when they move on to the next one. My dd usually doesn't sing in class & often runs around with the other kids. But, then at home I will hear her sing the songs sometimes when she thinks no one else is listening. :) And I always have so much fun with her whenever I go because it's parent & child participatory. (Her dad usually takes her Sat. mornings.) They also give you a CD (with two copies... one for the car & one for home) that have 25-35 songs on them. They have nine
725146
its really weird to have the same answers in the same place but....\n3yr olds:  \ngive them a vacation \nlike have someone take them for a weekend and give them like a new sleeping bag to take with them\nor take them to build a bear work shop if u got alittle money\n\nand for u and ur hubby, while the girls are away, give him the night to remember, buy u a new "outfit" to "wear" that night and go out to eat for dinner and save the "treat" when u get home
2568
Playing with blocks, balls, cars, stuffed animals, singing and any physical activity he can do are all great. Peak-a-boo, naming the objects, people and animals arond him are also great. Carrying him and dancing (gently) are also fun and good for you too. Read, for a short time, every day. Your library surely has sturdy board books with colorful pictures to look at. \nTake him outside and help him explore around the yard, park, wherever. \nAt that age it takes time to absorb new information, so don't rush, take your time and repeat things that hold his attention.\nSee what your son responds to best.\nThe games you play now will not be much fun for you but the relationship and mental foundation you are builidng now will pay off later. Good relations with parents are important for all kids.\nThe "What to Expect" Books have many ideas and good information.
540802
I have 2 children. The ages of 1&2. My one year old just started walking. I ask people to talk off their shoes to keep the floor clean and less things off the floor for the kids to pick up. Plus it helps when it comes down to allergies and many more things.
431122
Use ur diaper as a parachute and jump off...dats exactly what i have seen babies do in the cartoons then...no clue what they do now...
327751
a pool, indoor and outdoor. maybe a water slide too.  a daycare center so the parents can have alone time while the kids play. maybe a toy store that rents toys for their stay, like board games, family movies, squirt guns...etc.
352153
A toddler’s health is something parents should be concerned about because at this stage a toddler is very active, they encounter many new things and do a lot of dangerous things. Because toddlers are more active and because many parents tend to go to more places once children begin getting older the chances of colds and flu increase, parents should prepare.\nImmunizations\n\nParents should be up to date on their children’s vaccinations, vaccinations are very important tools that help prevent various childhood diseases and protect against germs that are floating in the air.\n\nEach time a child is immunized a parent is given a shot record that keeps track of all of the vaccinations a child has received. Parents should keep this shot record in a safe place at all times and if a parent isn’t quite sure if their child is up to date or not a quick call to the pediatrician or local health department should help a parent make sure.\n\nFever\n\nMost parents never think about what they will do when their toddler is feverish. At the first sign of fever take the toddlers temperature reading and call the pediatrician or the pharmacist to ask what type of pain reliever is best but most will recommend Tylenol or Motrin, follow the dosage directions on the packaging. \n\nPlace the toddler in the bathtub for a lukewarm bath because sometimes a bath can counteract to reduce a fever. \n\nAfter the bath the toddler should be dressed in warm clothing to keep them snug, usually a temperature can be brought down this way but it may return within hours.  Give the toddler another bath if needed but if a fever is high and refuses to come down, take the toddler to the doctor or emergency room because a fever could be a sign of something simple or serious. \n\nDiarrhea\n\nToddlers tend to experiment with lots of food that sometimes results with diarrhea! When in doubt or in severe cases, call the pediatrician or pharmacist for direction but do not give anyone with diarrhea milk or dairy products; instead go to the market to purchase pediatric drinks made specifically for little tots with diarrhea. \n\nThe ideal meal for a toddler with diarrhea is rice and bread or if the toddler doesn’t have much of an appetite a couple of pieces of toast or some crackers is great. The point is to get some absorbent into the stomach to absorb the painful liquid. \n\nIt’s also important to drink lots of liquid because with diarrhea it’s easy to become dehydrated. Clear drinks such as water, ginger ale, sprite or 7-up are acceptable but avoid darker liquid drinks or juices with a lot of sugar.\n\nCuts & Scrapes\n\nOne thing that parents should brace for are injuries, just in case. Toddlers are on the move and sometimes a scrape on the knee or the elbow is inevitable. A first aid kit is a must.\n\nWhile some cuts and scrapes are worse than others they should always be cleaned with an antibiotic spray or a liquid like hydrogen peroxide to reduce the risk of infection. Neosporin is an excellent ointment to aid in the healing process and use a band-aid to finish off. \n\nFalls\n\nFalls are pretty tricky and head injuries … even worse. If a toddler falls, even if there are no marks left behind, keep a close eye on them and if they act even a tad bit strange take them to a physician immediately. Head injuries can be very serious and they are nothing to be played around with.\n\nThe risk of concussion or internal damage is to high to leave up to chance.\n\nIf a toddler falls inspect them closely to make sure there are no hidden injuries, talk to them, ask them if they are okay and monitor them closely for at least two hours after, do not let a toddler go to sleep after a bump on the head. It’s always best to call a pediatrician or the hospital emergency room.\n\nToddlers are adorable mini people that need lots of supervision and toddlers are rough and tough tots that love action, just keep it safe.
568658
Well...what more can a six month old ask for?\nThis is the time to try out what that soap tastes like.\nThis is the time to squeez out all the paste from the toothpaste tube.\nn then rub it all over the floor.This the perfect time to pour the shampoo bottle in the flush n play bubbles.\nIn short...do all the stuff you can do only without adult disturbances.\nCheerrssss \nN when daddy or mommy come to pee or come looking in the loo for you...\nbelieve me they wont let you get locked up in their precious bathroom for the rest of their lives.
706057
install the detectors like the airports have and a security officer on grounds, two or more if the schools are big...kids deserve to be safe, just like airport travelers, etc.
1019664
they need to learn to hold their breaths first.. the problem with kids is that they feel that they wont be able to breathe.. you have to teach them while you are holding them.. to put their heads down and turn the head to breathe.. \n\nyou could use snorkels too.. this way they can breath .. but you have to let them go and do the above at some point
550005
You know who the responsible parent is....YOU! Just continue being what you are, and the problem is solved. Kids are smart, and they KNOW! They want to live where there is stability, security, and love! You give them all that, so you have nothing to be concerned about! Relax!!
766087
This ones a little scary!  By the looks of your intellectual level, I sure hope that youngster is out of diapers!\n\nFrom my point of view, a child should have reached double digits before being left alone.  Children do strange things when left alone, usually out of fear.  Most normal kids, by the time they're ten, could probably survive short term isolation.
281046
Never leave your child in Virginia.\nEspecially if travelling abroad.
124877
Well, if it's really small children, it's a good idea to get at their eye level when you talk, that way you're not so intimidating. dont use unnecissarily long words, but dont dumb it down too much for them- they can think, too. Like anyone else, they want to be listened to1 If you ask them to talk about something, listen and respond to what they say! dont just set them off rembling and then direct your attention elsewhere. : D. Also, a good way to get kids to maybe stop doing something they shouldnt be is the 'I know...But...' format. Such as, 'I know you want to play for five more minutes, but our dinner will get cold if we dont leave now' \n\nI hope this helps a bit!
1143321
~~a safe and clean environment for them to play in, adiquate napping places, a budget, plans on what the parents are required to supply and what you will supply, and depending on how many children, and what ages you plan on taking in, you may need an assistant or more.  an emergency supply of diapers for those parents who forget to bring enough for their babies... a variety supply of extra clothes for emergency situations, depending on the age of the children, an activity plan, suitable and age appropriate music, videos, books and toys that can be easily cleaned, (especially when it is cold and flu season) if you are going to have outdoor activities it would be a good idea to have a fenced in yard, a written contract between you and the parents stating what you will supply and what they will supply, including your rates in the contract, and also including charges if you have to supply the emergency diapers (to cover your costs)... plan nutritious snacks, take it easy on the sugar content and salt content. -- another form you might consider is a medical concent form with the child's dr's name and phone number on it, with permission in an emergency situation to have the child transported to the nearest hospital, and also a list of each child's medical needs, meds, allergies, etc...~~