Physical development means learning to take good care of oneself. Self-care is an important part of a toddlers’ physical growth, hence, they need to learn it as early as possible. Here are some ways how parents can help their children achieve it.

Set A Good Example

Be your toddler’s role model. Children learn things based on what they see. Take advantage of this by modelling positive hygiene behaviour. Take care of yourself, keep yourself well-groomed at all times and follow the same healthy practices you want to teach your toddler. Make sure every family member participates so there is consistency. Once he sees everyone doing the same things, it will be easy for him to mimic these actions and ultimately, make them a part of his daily routine.

Explain

Actions and words go hand in hand. Support your actions by discussing the importance of self-care to your toddler. Do not just say “Do not touch the toilet bowl because it is dirty.”. Be specific. Lay down the facts in front of him. Talk to your toddler about germs - what they are, how germs can affect his health and what he can do to prevent germs from making him sick. Discuss the importance of washing hands, brushing teeth, sleeping early, fruits and vegetables and so on.

Use Gadgets

The secret to keeping your toddler occupied is to surround him with toys. Fill the tub with toys like rubber ducks, ships, toy trucks or a bath toy set to make bath time more fun. If you have trouble getting him to brush his teeth, buy him an hourglass sand timer or a colorful egg timer. This will give your little one something to focus on and anticipate while he waits for the sand to run out or for the timer to go off while at the same time making sure he brushes each row of teeth long enough. Or, you could also get him an electric toothbrush. He will love the vibrating motion it creates in his mouth. A toothpaste that has your toddler’s favorite cartoon character on it also helps.

Play A Game

Trick your toddler into completing his daily self-care routine by playing a game. Toddlers love games so think of ways how you can incorporate them to make things more fun. Help your toddler wash his hands the right way by asking him to sing a song as he washes like “Happy Birthday” and “Row, Row Your Boat”. Take turns brushing each other’s teeth. Brush his teeth and have him brush your teeth after. Read him a storybook about bath time while he is in the tub or play his favorite children’s song so you can sing together while you are scrubbing him.

Be Patient

Learning a new skill takes time so be flexible. If learning to wash his hands means a messy bathroom for a few days, or if eating on his own means staining his shirt, or if getting dressed on his own means finding a room filled with clothes everywhere, just go with the flow. Remember, practice makes perfect and the more he practices, the better he will be.

Reward Him

As always, encouragement is key. Each time your toddler tries doing something new, tell him you are proud of the effort he made whether or not he succeeds at it. Create a chart where you can list down self-care tasks he needs to do. For every task he completes, put a sticker beside it. Once he has collected 5 stickers, give him a special prize like eating at his favorite restaurant, watching a movie or a new toy. This will make him feel good motivating your toddler to repeat his actions.

Learning proper personal hygiene does not happen overnight. It takes practice. While it is not an easy thing to teach self-care skills to your toddler, you can outsmart him with the help of the tips listed above.

More and more individuals are becoming environmentally conscious. A lot of environment friendly products are available – from food to clothes to bags to toys. Yes, toys. During the past years, a lot of manufacturers are offering Eco-friendly toys. Here are some reasons why you too should make the big switch.

Eco-friendly Toys Are:

Safe

Eco-friendly or non-toxic toys are safe for your toddler and for the environment. Your little one has a tendency to put everything he comes in contact with into his mouth. In addition, rough and tumble play and his natural inquisitiveness can often times lead to the disassembly of his toys causing him to be exposed to unknown elements. The usual toys often contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which is often labelled non-toxic. But in reality, PVC generates dioxins in the manufacturing process which contain softening substances like phthalates, considered to be hormone destructors. But with Eco-friendly toys, you do not have to worry about him encountering harmful materials which can jeopardize your toddler’s health since all green toys are non-toxic.

Because Eco-friendly toddler toys do not contain chemicals such as pesticides, plastic and other poisonous materials, they are less likely to be tossed aside decreasing their chances to wind up in the local landfill. In this way, you help decrease the pollutants in this world.

Durable

Unlike the usual plastic toys which you instantly need to dispose once it cracks or breaks, Eco-friendly toddler toys are made from durable, natural materials assuring you that they can withstand the hard play habits of toddlers. Examples of Eco-friendly toddler toys include wooden toys and cotton toys. They are so tough that they can be passed down from one generation to the next.

More Effective In Developing A Child’s Imagination

Researches have proven time and again that the best toys that can maximize the creative side of a toddler are Eco-friendly toddler toys. One good example are toys made from cotton and Eco-friendly books. They are colorful, versatile and are great tools for free play. These types of Eco-friendly toys encourages creative play such as pretend play or role play which stimulates your toddler’s mind to think beyond what is presented in front of him.

Helpful In Boosting A Child’s Skills

Eco-friendly toys like wooden toys will have some educational or developmental benefit. Wooden puzzles can help develop hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills boosting cognitive development. Sorting games such as bead sequencing sets can teach your little one memory and reasoning skills while push toys can improve his motor skills.

Affordable

Toys are your toddler’s first playmate, making them a very essential part of his childhood. An expensive toy does not always mean it is the most durable. So make the most out of your money by opting for Eco-friendly toys. They are very affordable and you can choose from a wide array of choices such as stackers, rock crayons, puzzles, trucks, balls and many more.

It is possible to take care of your toddler while caring for the environment at the same time. With the help of Eco-friendly toys, you help nourish your precious one to be the best person he can be while saving Mother Nature from further distraction.

Night fears are common in children. Add the media and an active imagination, bedtime fears can go into overdrive. Here are some tips on how you can erase your toddler’s night fears so the both of you can get that much needed sleep.

Monitor TV Viewing

Generally, night fears are generated by what a toddler sees on television (e.g. scary or action movies or cartoon shows). Pay close attention to the shows your toddler watches. Change or turn off age-inappropriate television shows. Extreme, violent scenes often create disturbing or terrifying ideas which can develop night time fears leading to your toddler not wanting to go to sleep. Let him watch TV shows that encourage happy thoughts to help him sleep well throughout the night.

Establish A Bedtime Routine

Create a bedtime ritual that is simple and relaxing and make sure you stick to it. Start the routine the same time every night. You can begin by giving your toddler a light activity a few hours before bedtime to help him calm down after a long day followed by a soothing warm bath, helping him dress in his pajamas, dimming the lights in his room, reading a book and kissing him on the forehead before saying goodnight.

Acknowledge Your Child’s Fears

Do not make fun or downplay your toddler’s fears. Remember that your little one does not think the way an adult does so do not expect him to distinguish fact from fiction on his own. Talk to your toddler about his night fears. Ask him what he thinks he sees at night and why he is afraid. Calmly reassure him that his fear is normal and it is okay to be scared. Tell him that you also had your own bedtime fears when you were still a child and tell him how you dealt with them to make those fears go away. When your toddler knows that you can relate to him, he will become motivated to work towards alleviating them.

Give Your Child An “Anti-fear” Weapon

Provide your toddler with tools that can fight the monsters, ghosts or whatever is causing the night fears. For instance, you can fill a small spray bottle with water and tell your toddler to use the spray bottle which contains “monster fluid” to any scary areas of the room before going to bed so anything that comes into the room is instantly destroyed. Encouraging your little one to fight back against his bedtime fears is often the best approach to eliminate his fears completely.

Offer A Security Object

A stuffed animal, pillow or your old shirt can act as your toddler’s security blanket. He can bring it with him to bed to help make him feel secure at night. A set of walkie-talkies makes it easier for your toddler to contact you every time he gets scared. Hearing your voice will reassure your toddler that he is safe and that you are always by his side. Using a nightlight also helps illuminate any objects in your toddler’s room which can ease his feelings of anxiety whenever he wakes up to a dark room in the middle of the night.

Create A Peaceful Sleeping Area

Ambiance is important in ensuring a good night sleep. Make your toddler’s bedroom as comfortable as possible. Decorate his bed with bed sheets with a design of  his favorite superhero and place his favorite things (e.g. toys, stuffed animal, pillows, drawings, etc.) in his room. This will give him a sense of familiarity which creates a homey feel which will make him think less of his fears and think of more happy thoughts so he can drift off and dream sweet dreams.

The only way to deal with your toddler’s night fears is to help and support him. Think of creative ideas which you think can erase his fears so he can sleep well and wake up bright and happy.