Parenting For the Toddler

Do daft things. Young children love it when adults do crazy and unusual things, and they really enjoy strange and bizarre events. Satisfy this love of the surreal with some hippy fun. You might, for instance, make up a game like Banana Bag (squashing a banana inside a thick, clear plastic bag!). Pass the Eyeball (asking them to close their eyes and handing round a peeled grape) or a Wobbly Stool (lying back and letting your children ride on your raised knees, which you wobble and then unexpectedly collapse). Make the most of these games - they give you visiting rights to your child's world.

Keep a funny book. From the moment they start to speak, get a big blank book in which to write down all the wonderful things your kids say. In later years, this book will be a treasured family keepsake and will give you and your children a big laugh!

Point out differences between things, such as different sorts of dogs, types of shops, varying landscapes or contrasting flowers, so that your young children start to observe and become interested in the diversity of the world around them.

Explore the senses. Make connections between different sensual experiences, sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. "What colour do you think this music is?" "What sound a banana make?" "What do you reckon blue smells of?" "Where older children might think you mad, younger ones are far more likely to accept such associations and try to offer answers.

Make associations between people and colours, sounds, shapes, fruits, drinks, landscapes... anything! Sometimes be the interviewer... "What sort of animal are you?" - and other times the interviewee. Older children will enjoy finding associations for all their friends, and then quizzing those friends to see if the associations tally.

Use metaphors and similes. The capacity to make connections between things is the basis of imagination, so share with your kids any associations that occur to you: "Those parachutes look like jellyfish in the sky." "The water coming out of the tap looks plaited, just like your hair is now." "Look at your shadow - you're a giant statue!"

Work out the meaning of what your kids say. Young children's speech can be very disjointed. Often kids burble on about seemingly unconnected things and it's all too easy not to hear. If you do listen really hard, you'll be surprised by how much sense can be construed from the kaleidoscope of infant speech.

Quash pester power. If all else fails, steer clear of pester hot spots. Choose the supermarket that doesn't sell toys over the one that does, take a different route to avoid the sweet shop or leave your partner to babysit while you shop alone in the evenings. What the eye doesn't see, the infant doesn't hanker for.

Avert tantrums with distractions. "Look at those lovely flowers!" "I think I saw Tom the cat outside the window!" "Can you spot a red car?" "What would you like for your birthday?" It doesn't always work, but it's worth a go!

Flip-flops. They look cute on young kids but are very difficult for children to run about and tackle stairs in. Properly fitted sandals, with backs, are infinitely preferable, and far safer.

Insist upon plates. Young children can be fantastically messy eaters. From an early age, train them not to wander about while eating, to eat over a plate or surface and to be mindful of how much mess they are making.

Dress the part. Left to their own devices, most younger children would ice-skate in swimming costumes and play tennis in winter coats, - without noticing. Dressing appropriately is not high on a kid's list of priorities, so lay down the law.

Move on. Young children develop very fast. A toy that was fascinating a month ago may be of little interest now, so keep abreast of your child's curiosity and developing intellect by presenting them with fresh challenges and activities. You needn't spend a fortune - toy libraries, charity shops and imaginative activities won't break the bank.