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Coping With Climbers
Keeping your climbing toddler safe, Page 2
by Alessia Cowee
Climbing -- the mere word is enough to strike terror into the hearts of experienced and inexperienced parents alike. In this article, learn how to cope with your climbing toddler! (Read part one here!)
How To Cope
Parenting a climber can be a stressful occupation. It is important to remember that climbers, along with being fearless in the face of falling, are unable to comprehend their parents' fears. Remaining calm may ensure that your child does not panic, thus preventing a potential fall.
When approaching a child who has clambered into a dangerous position, use a firm and level tone of voice, and advance slowly and methodically rather than running toward them. When scared or excited, a young child is likely to move quickly and without thought; therefore, be cognizant of your child's state of mind when removing them from a climbing situation.
The old adage, "What goes up must come down" is not always true of climbing children. It is not rare for climbers to become stranded in their perches, requiring parental or even professional (police/fire departments) rescue efforts. There is one cardinal rule to remember when attempting to extricate your stuck climber. Be cautious. Watch for hazards that might not be apparent (loose boards, holes, power lines, etc.), place your hands and feet carefully, and plan your descent in advance, or you too might wind up unable to get down!
Come talk about your child on the parents of toddlers message board!
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Successful Strategies
Remove unnecessary climbing temptations. This includes infrequently used furniture such as extra chairs, toy boxes, step stools, etc.
Essential items may be rearranged and/or altered to prevent use as a climbing aid or destination. Turning kitchen chairs on their sides, or upside down, piling non-scalable items in armchairs or on sofas and placing low pieces of furniture on their ends may serve to deter little hands and feet from seeking purchase there.
Provide acceptable climbing toys in safe locations. (i.e. jungle gym, a slide with a ladder, etc.)
Cover kitchen drawer handles. The kitchen is a favorite haunt for climbers. Use vertical tubes or other means to keep drawer and cupboard handles from being used as ladders. Put cereal and other favored snack items in low storage spaces, allowing child access without climbing.
Use window locks. For persistent climbers, this allows adequate airflow with a gap too narrow for a child to fit through.
Be consistent -- be persistent. Tell your child "no" when they climb. Remove them from the spot and try to engage them in another activity. Keep doing this as long as the child returns to the climbing point. A toddler or young child will quickly become frustrated by this repetitive action (as long as it is not made into a game) and seek other diversions.
Don't despair!
Parents of climbers shouldn't despair. Though a love of high places and climbing may remain with your child throughout his/her life, the very obvious dangers of climbing will lessen with time and maturity. Use these stop-gap measures to keep your climber safe during the toddler and preschool years, ensuring that when he/she is old enough to help you plant a tree, they will still be around to climb it!
Links, information and more for you
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Find out more about toddlers here
Visit the parents of toddlers message board
Child Safe: A Guide for Preventing Childhood Injuries (book)
Tot Lok safety latch starter set
Directory of Ages Articles
Directory of all articles
About the author: Alessia Cowee is a freelance writer and an ePregnancy contributing editor. The mother of three, she makes her home in Chico, California. |
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