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TV Watching and the Toddler

Most toddlers have short attention spans and will, thankfully, limit their own television watching. Unhealthy habits can form when kids get too much TV. The general rule is for a child to view no more than 30 minutes of television a day. Even educational programming counts against this time. Educational programming does provide great information, but most toddlers will learn these skills in due time without having to watch it on television. Experts say that kids, who watch more than 30 minutes of TV a day, are developing sedentary lifestyle habits, which will be hard to overcome when they get … Continue reading →

Why Toddlers Whine

My son’s new thing is whining, which I find very annoying. I want to understand why he is doing this and I’m trying very hard not to lose my patience with him. It is the constant sound of the whining that bothers me. While explaining this to my mother, she asked me how I could handle the tantrums he throws and not the whining. I answered that whining means he isn’t mad enough or upset enough to throw a tantrum, but he can’t just be okay with whatever is going on. I know this isn’t the scientific version of whining … Continue reading →

Dancing Toddlers

My son loves to dance. Is this just a natural interest for toddlers? Do all toddlers love music and dance? I’ve been thinking about enrolling my son in some sort of toddler dance class. He is interested in all kinds of music and dances to anything. I’ve been reading up on toddler dance classes and looking for something to get him enrolled in. I found that they offer “Tiptoes & Tumbling” classes, which are designed to encourage creativity, coordination, skills, musicality and rhythm. Another class I found is “Pre-School Tap, Ballet & Tumbling” for ages 3 to 5. At another … Continue reading →

Time Outs for Toddlers

To say I am a firm believer in time outs for toddlers is an understatement. I have tried everything to get my son to behave and listen to what I tell him. He is a very strong-willed, hard-headed, stubborn child. He is full of energy and determination. Consequently, he is always getting into trouble. My son’s most recent reaction to getting into trouble is to smile and come over and hug me. I recently told him, “I don’t want a hug. I want you to listen and to do what you are told.” At that point, he leaned in and … Continue reading →

Shopping with Toddlers

Whether or not you love to shop, going to the store with a toddler in tow is much different from shopping alone or with older kids or adults. Today, I took my toddler to the mall. I survived. I didn’t think I would. At least when I go shopping alone or with an adult or even with a teenager, they walk by themselves without asking to be carried. My son just had to have me carry him and that took a toll on my back. I remember a few years ago when I went shopping with my friend and her … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Television: The Electronic Babysitter

I have been criticized more than once for letting my toddler watch television. It is often referred to as the electronic babysitter, mostly by people who don’t think toddlers should watch television at all. However, I do not consider the television to be an electronic babysitter, so much as a source of both entertainment and education. There have been times when I have joked that I’m happy to have my electronic babysitter. That usually occurs when I desperately need to finish dinner and my son wants to play ball. I need a few minutes to get plates on the table … Continue reading →

When Your Toddler is Sick

One of the worst parts of parenting is seeing your child sick and not being able to do anything about it. As a mother, it breaks my heart to see my son sick. I thought that before he was talking, but now that he is talking, it has gotten worse. My son now says, “I’m good,” as if he thinks being sick is punishment. Tonight, as I write this, my heart is breaking. My son has a fever and cough and feels awful. He can’t get comfortable and he doesn’t know why. I can’t seem to get him to understand … Continue reading →

Toddler Outings

In our city, we have a few places that offer educational and fun outings for kids, including toddlers. While the park is great on pretty days, those are also the days my son can play in our own backyard. It’s the rainy days and the days when we need to be indoors that presents the need for a toddler outing. When narrowing down my options for a toddler outing with my son, I end up with just a few choices. One is Chuck E. Cheese, which he loves, but it can be costly if we go there too often. Each … Continue reading →

Toddler Rocking Horses

A cherished gift given to many babies and toddlers is a rocking horse. Whether it is made of wood or plastic, rocking horses are sure to get plenty of attention from toddlers. For Christmas this year, my son received “Legend,” the rocking horse with movement and sound. He is plush and comes with his own brush. His mouth moves when he sings. He makes galloping sounds while being ridden. My son loves how “life-like” he is. When his ear is pressed, he neighs and moves his tail. It seems that all toddlers love rocking horses. I know I did when … Continue reading →

A Toddler Christmas

Christmas is fun with toddlers, isn’t it? At our family lunch on Christmas day, we had four toddlers there. It was all fun and games when it came to playing with each other prior to the opening of gifts. Once the presents were opened and each had their own toys, it became a family feud amongst the toddlers. Sharing isn’t their specialty, you know. My grandmother was fortunate enough to have her first three great-grandchildren born in the same year. The forth was born in the following year. Being so close in age is great for the children. They will … Continue reading →