Watching a wide-eyed toddler smile as Dad gently blows the tuft of silky hair of spring’s last dandelion heavenward and then, seeing the spontaneous clapping of little hands, bears witness to the amazing reservoir of joy he has and gives. A toddler takes his mother’s hand and pulls her toward the toy box because he remembers the pleasure of yesterday’s play and wants to share another similar moment. When little hands pull a face close to touch noses or plant a kiss, a world of turmoil comes under the spell of a toddler’s love. Toddlers have a unique and powerful persuasive­ness about them. They enjoy a time of innocence and play, when the joy of one discovery simply melts into the next and when every waking moment has a new adventure waiting just around the corner. The second year of life is an amazing, spontaneous, engaging, yet challenging time for child. Because his mind is driven by curiosity and a tendency to try and rule the world with a smile or a scream, it becomes essential to consider the many influence shaping his life.

Over the next several post, we will take up a number of topics specifically targeting the wonderful world of toddlers and how Moms and Dads can keep their little person safe, on track developmentally, and pointed in the ‘way he should go’. Enjoy.