Seeing the world through the eyes of your child

Very often, I see parents yelling at their kids. “No! Stop! Don’t touch it!” and so on. We tend to see things through the eyes of an adult; always critical and judgmental. It is important to realize that kids (especially in the 1-5 year age group) are very curious. This is the age when their urge to explore their surroundings is the maximum. They are seeing many things for the first time, and naturally, their brain is urging them to touch, to feel, to hear and to taste. Kids in this age group love to break toys, tear up paper, put things in their mouth, play with mud or bang on utensils. It is all a natural urge. This is how their neural network and proprioceptive senses develop. The more you try to stop them from doing it, the more you retard their natural neural growth, and more urge they have to do it.

So, does this mean that you should let them loose in the house, allowing them to destroy things? Well, not exactly. It means that you should see the world through their eyes. If they are tearing up some paper, which is not important, let them do it. If junior loves to play in mud, let him. Just clean him up later. Here are some tips to ensure that you can relax while the little one can play around the house, without trouble.

· Keep all valuable papers, glass, knives, medicine, crockery or other items in a place where kids can’t reach it.
· Avoid plastic toys and pacifiers. Many toys and pacifiers contain harmful chemicals like PVC, VMC and DHEP. Wooden toys are safer and more durable.
· Most plug points are within reach. Close them with a removable closer. Alternatively, you can tape points, which you don’t use frequently..
· If at all they get their hands on something valuable or dangerous, don’t panic. Just go beside them and calmly request them to hand it over. Most often it works. If you throw a fit and yell at them, they too get excited and understand that it is something valuable. The next time, they will have the natural urge to pick it up again.
· Whenever you are with the child, try to explore things together. Encourage them to feel the texture of a leaf or the smell of a flower. Give them a pen and paper and let them scribble. It will not only keep them occupied, but also allows for that crucial development.