Costometic

Do you, like me, find your voice suddenly sounding shrill and strident when you are ticking off your child, like a peacock frantic for rain? Of course, we all want our kids to be disciplined, but, admit it-we tend to overshoot. I have found an easy way to check this: Count how many times you say "No!" to your child in a day. Sigh, I’m guilty off and on. For those days and every other, this site will bring you cheer and ease to yes-and-no issues with children. Reading other fun mom’s experiences (get any book by writer-columnist Erma Bombeck ) helps you take the sharp edge off parenting.

Then again, it gets tough to be a funny and sunny TV parent after a hard day, coming home to yo-yo kids (one of them wants to play name-place-animal-game; the other one wants to make a Scooby Strings necklace). Often my day at work runs full tilt into my home time with only the car ride in between, during which I catch up with friends on the phone. It’s hard to find those 20 minutes to unwind.

It’s not easy being the mother of two bundles of energy and a wife of top-of-the-pops. Then the saying, "One kid is fun; two are more fun. It’s a nonstop comedy of errors!". Ever wonder why toddlers try to open the same locked cupboard day after day? Or why, when you see her heading for the floor lamp and say, "No, honey, that’s dangerous," she starts running in a desperate attempt to get there before you do? The explanation is simple: One-year-olds are fueled by an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. "Exploring helps them learn and feeds their brain development," says Dr. Harvey Karp M.D., author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block . Discovering new things also helps your child feel in control, which helps to boost her confidence. Chances are your child is already blazing her own trails. But there’s plenty you can do to make it more fun and educational. Those things which may be ’same old jobs’ for you, but to your child they are fresh and fascinating.

FOLLOW YOUR KID’S LEAD

Toddlers/kids investigate things at their own pace and according to their individual interests. But many 1-year-olds like to dawdle-for good reason. "They are trying to make sense of things, so they take their time examining them", says Dr. Robin Gaines Lanzi , PH.D., Assistant Professor of Human Science and Research Director, Center of Health and Education, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., US. Let your child discover things on his own and learn new skills (such as pushing the buttons on a toy). And don’t rush him.

STIMULATE YOUR KID’S SENSES

"Toddlers explore with their whole body", says Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, New York, US. Take advantage of this by utilizing your child’s sense of touch, which is especially important at this age. Point out and identify various textures ("Feel how rough the tree bark is" or "The dog’s fur is so soft"). Look for ways to stimulate her other sense too: "The flowers smell very sweet" or "Whoa, that drum is loud" or "Let’s name all the different colors in that sunset".

GO ON AN ADVENTURE TOGETHER

Taking your little explorer outdoors is one of the best things you can do. A park or a hiking trail will spark his curiosity in a boundary-free environment. But you don’t even need to go that far. A simple stroll can turn into an adventure if you stop along the way to jump into a rain puddle or look at fallen leaves. Hunting for differently shaped and colored pebbles is another good idea of a great outing to the park in the evening. No matter how ordinary those pebbles may look, but it’s a treasure for your kid. Once your kid realizes that he/she is not supposed to put them in mouth, it’s fun to discover with him how interesting ordinary stones can be.

LET YOUR KID SAFELY EXPLORE (IN THE HOUSE)

There’s a reason to lock cupboards: To a toddler, the urge to find out what’s inside closed bins is irresistible. But instead of making them all off-limits, Dr. Lanzi suggests setting aside one drawer is okay for your child to investigate. Fill it with things that are safe and age-appropriate, such as light pots and pans, plastic bowls and spoons, bits and pieces of cloth and shells. "You might also leave out some boxes your child can climb on, crawl in and stack", says Dr. Joanne Baum, Ph.D., author of Got the Baby Where’s the Manual ?.

GIVE YOUR KID AN OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE-WATCH

Your toddler is aware that he’s a separate being and he’s interested in watching what other people do. Demonstrating actions in front of him (such as picking up the phone, using a toothbrush or throwing a ball) will help him learn to imitate them. Your child will also benefit from seeing other toddlers at the park. Even if he doesn’t join in, he will enjoy observing his peers. Also, let him watch you do chores, such as whipping up an omelet, hammering a nail into the wall or cleaning the aquarium. Remember, it’s all new, fresh and fascinating for your kid, may be ’same old job’ for you.