How to Handle a Climbing-Crazy Toddler
“You are the best adventure.” –Unknown
Parenting a toddler comes with many rewards: little chats, shared activities and lots of opportunities for adventure! If your little one is a bit more on the daredevil side, you will want to take a moment and read these tips on how to handle a climbing-crazy toddler. As a Maui Mama with a son who has the nickname, “Monkey,” I might just know a couple of things about this topic.
We all know that learning how to climb is an important part of the development process. As a parent you want to keep your toddler safe, while still being able to explore the world around. First of all, do your part: secure all heavy furniture to the wall. Bookcases and dressers are easy targets for a toddler to explore, however, they can lead to injury or even death if they fall on your child! By using an L-shaped bracket from the local hardware store, you can ease your worries and protect your child, just in case he gets the itch to climb your furniture.
Secondly, do your part: train your child on the boundaries of safe and unsafe areas to climb and unsafe areas. For example, a playground staircase built for toddlers, okay; mommy’s bookcase, not okay. Gently remind your toddler with a firm, yet simple, “no” and remove him from the unsafe area.
Thirdly, do your part: create opportunities to climb safely. Head outdoors and let your toddler explore the yard (with adult supervision, of course), explore the beach, explore the playground…the opportunities are endless and your growing toddler needs these opportunities to exercise his climbing skills! You can even create indoor climbing courses using pillows and other safe household items for fun in your own home.
Finally, do your part: use safety gates, nets, etc., wherever it is necessary. And always, always keep your mama eyes open, you know the ones behind your back, too? Raising an active toddler is no easy task, but the reward is worth it! Happy parenting!
