Childproofing your home. Did you do it? We didn't. Oh, we put the locks on the cabinets that lead to the bleach, and when Jude was super small we had a gate to keep him away from the cat litter (although that lasted for a very short time if I recall correctly), oh, and the cheap Ikea shelf is firmly attached to the wall, but we never "childproofed" the apt. We thought it would better serve Jude if he learned what he was allowed to touch and play with first thing rather than just removing all those things or placing them up higher. Safety is important, but there is a line you don't have to cross, despite what all parenting websites will tell you (toilet lock? Just close the damn door).
We got this idea from our friend Mel. Her son, at the age of about 2-3 was able to enter another persons home, one that wasn't childproofed, and be able to safely and peacefully exist within it. Ding, ding, ding! Yup, Aaron and I both agreed that we liked that idea.
We said "no, no touch," or "that's not a toy, it's a pretty" a lot in the beginning, and we've had to deal with a few losses or slight damages, but really? Nothing serious. Jude has been able to visit other people's homes for some time and require little if no intervention. Now that he's nearly three he'll often even ask before trying to touch something and you can just tell him no, that's not a toy, etc. I can leave my camera where he can get to it and he won't touch it. Our tv is down low and he doesn't fuss with it (aside from knowing how to turn it on, and the x-box... and get out a dvd and put it in and start it up... etc). I can take him into someone elses home and he won't start messing with the computer, or house plants, or decorations. I love it. I highly recommend this approach. In the long run there is for more benefit and less worry. And your friends won't have to scramble to put all the valuables up high when you come to visit.
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