By Robyn Beer
The world of toddlers can be both wonderful and challenging to children and parents alike.
For a toddler, everything is brand new and an adventure, an exciting journey to discover great things in even the simplest of activities. As adults, we get used to our surroundings but children see everything as amazing. One of my favorite things to do with my toddler daughter is to walk through the garden. We feed the birds and have interesting and insightful conversations about all the flowers and “goggas” we find. Sometimes I just stand back and watch her follow a butterfly. This, of course, leads to other games: hiding in the couch or the tent from the various made up goggas and other animals. Their vast imaginations never cease to amaze us.
Toddlers have a way of turning anything into a game, even the simple act of reading often turns into role plays and great giggles in my house. I’m sure many of you, like me, are often frustrated by their fixation on that one book, game, or activity. After reading the same the story ten days in row, I find myself holding my breath while she chooses her bedtime story… Not that one again please! You read it anyway, and if your toddlers are anything like mine they will find something new and exciting on almost every page.
They are constantly absorbing everything around them, and I mean everything – the good, the bad and the ugly! There is nothing more frustrating for both my daughter and me, than when she is trying to do something new and just can’t get it right. I want to help, and she wants to do it on her own. As frustrating as it can be to hear those words, “I do it myself,” when they do actually do it themselves, there is nothing more rewarding.
Life is an adventure waiting to happen for a toddler, so play with play dough, have a tea party and read that book again. Have fun with them, it is worth it!
