FROM 18 TO 24 MONTHS OF AGE.
Now that the child has learned to walk, has he stopped at the achieved, won at the price of so many falls, bruises and cones? To believe so means to know badly his exceptional viability, irrepressible desire to see, experience and study everything. Until now, he could only explore those subjects that were within his reach, but now that he is able to get to any thing, he will not miss this new opportunity, on the contrary, will be able to use it to its fullest extent.
On the left, on the right, at the top right, at the bottom - everything can be taken, touched and enjoyed in an incomparable way! Put yourself on his meso. Touch everything! Nothing stops a child at this age: he gets on chairs, sofa, armchairs, hundreds of times risking to fall. He gets under the bed to get the ball, climbs the stairs, tries to go down on them, but so far he can't. He opens the doors, lights up, shakes out the contents of the boxes; imitating adults, pulls cigarettes into his mouth, opens bottles of cologne, a tube of lipstick (or a pack of sleeping pills). He possesses a box of matches, chirps to make it burst out brightly. Trying to stick a pin in an electric socket out of curiosity, pulls out the pages from the book lying on the table, leaves scribbles on its cover, throws a sandwich out the window of the sandwich, puts a chair to the chest of drawers to get a red apple from the dish; the dish falls, the apples fall down on the floor, the child falls down on them; it is no big deal, he gets up. He pulls his train by the rope, drags the doll by the hair. All this makes an unimaginable noise and mess that does not confuse the child at all, he does not even notice them. He runs for miles a day; it seems he will never get tired. Then suddenly there is complete silence, which seems more dangerous than the previous noise. Parents rush to the child. He falls asleep on the floor, exhausted. However, not for long, he only gathers strength to go on new conquests.
The apartment, provided to the child, able to walk and quite restless, after some time reminds the battlefield. Of course, not all children behave like conquerors, meet and more calm, especially girls, but still at this age, the child is truly omnipresent. And not to rejoice, but to worry, if a 2-year-old child is exceptionally calm, quietly sits in his corner ("it is never heard!"), it should be more worrying than happy. Silence is not inherent in this age.
It is necessary to specify, however, that the child of this age is an involuntary "destroyer", it breaks and breaks only because of its awkwardness. He does not throw objects with force, but drops them, because he does not yet have a good command of hands and can not hold firmly.
What should be done if the child has everything, climbing everywhere, whether at home, at the nanny's or in the nursery? Should we forbid everything or allow everything? Neither. In the first case, the main development trend is distorted. Climbing, opening, exploring, studying, running - all this is necessary for the development of feelings, muscles and mind. A child who sets up a chair to get an apple on the table demonstrates his intelligence and at the same time develops muscles.
In an empty room where there is no furniture or other objects, the child will not spoil anything, but his mind is asleep and his muscles are inactive. However, everything would be dangerous to allow.
The best option is to create an atmosphere of "moderate freedom". In the nursery it is simple, because everything is adapted for children, games and furniture meet their growth and needs. Homes are more complicated. Stairway barriers and window barriers will help protect the child from danger; electric sockets must also be disguised with special devices, all fragile objects must be removed to a safe place, and favorite trinkets and poisonous substances must be hidden in cupboards; the child must be given sufficient space to play.
However, this is usually the case in families with young children; there you immediately notice that all things are taller and out of reach - plants, plates, lamps, books, jewelry, etc.
Your child is now conveniently arranged and removed as much as possible from the dangers involved; yet listen from time to time to keep in touch, but don't control it continuously, warning every minute, "Careful, you will hurt yourself! He needs a certain freedom. Let him look for adventure, so he feels that he is trusted. An adventure at his age is to climb into a small chair on his own, to open the box himself. In a word, he should know that one of the adults is next to him, he can be called, but at the same time he does not stand above him, watching his every move. However, from time to time, the baby himself will come to check whether you, and, making sure, calmly return to their classes. Then he will call you to share his last discovery or ask for help.