I remember when I first saw the movie The Karate Kid back in the 1980′s. When the movie was done, I turned to my dad and said I was going to learn to do what Daniel-san had learned. The next day, I was headed out to the local dojo with my mom. We had come early and sat on a bench while the class started. I had come for the adult’s class (I was all of eighteen years old then), but the class in session was the junior class for kids twelve and under. The smallest members of the dojo, kids as young as four or five, worked just as hard, if not harder, to imitate their older dojo brothers and sisters. Martial arts for children can be a wonderful self-esteem booster and great exercise. It can also help with motor skills and coordination and improve social skills.

Between the ages of two and five, your toddler is growing in mind, body and spirit.   These ages are distinctly important, as they set the tone for your toddler’s life pattern of behavior.  Childhood development experts recommend that toddlers participate in physical and mental activities to encourage personality growth, physical maturity, and socialization with others.  The martial arts effectively provide these experiences in a variety of ways.

While your toddler is growing, his muscles and bones must develop strength and agility.  Physical development occurs only when a toddler receives adequate exercise that including stretching, bending and muscle-building movements.

Have you noticed how clumsy toddlers can be?  Although they have mastered the fine art of walking, they seem to trip over many things, including their own two feet!  The martial arts excel at teaching your toddler motor skill coordination, precision movements that increase hand-eye coordination and foot/leg movements that help him learn balance and move him past the toddler “wobbles.”

How long is your toddler’s attention span?  How about his ability to focus on tasks until they’re completed?  Is he able to memorize and retain information at a rate appropriate for his age?  The martial arts require toddlers to concentrate and pay close attention to the instructions of the sensei (teacher); to be successful in the martial arts and in their lives, toddlers must learn to listen and thoroughly absorb the lessons.  Your toddler will also learn to focus and follow through on tasks; dawdling and impulsivity aren’t allowed!  The sensei will re-direct your child’s focus to mastering the task at hand; movements that can only be learned by strict focus.  Your toddler will be required to memorize the order and types of movements, performing them flawlessly when prompted by the sensei.  Thus, when he begins school, your toddler will have a distinct edge in learning language and abstract arithmetic skills.

The best things in life are not free. Hard work and discipline get you what you want and help you reach your goals. Unfortunately, toddlers only know that they want everything now. There is no later; there is no waiting. Right away is all that matters. In the martial arts, toddlers get their first taste of reality and learn self-discipline. They learn that they have to take things step by step and master each step before moving on to the next. There are no shortcuts.

Your toddler will learn that unprovoked aggression is never appropriate.  The martial arts are defensive in nature; your toddler will learn that amicably getting along with others results from the self confidence of knowing that he isn’t going to be harmed by schoolyard bullies.  As he bows to his opponent, your toddler learns to show respect to others, increasing his own confidence. His mastery of the martial arts also teaches him that he can succeed in life tasks, thus building a confident, intrepid adult.

Your toddler’s sensei will expose him to the enduring wisdom of Eastern philosophy and the ancient world.  These are the concepts of avoiding foolish and self-destructive behavior, service to others, tolerance for differences, patience, loyalty and caution.

Most dojos these days offer many programs for all age levels. Childrens’ classes abound in nearly every city, suburb and community center. Take your time to find a school and style of martial arts that fits your child and your budget. Talk to the instructors and the parents of other students, sit in on the classes, and watch how instructors teach. If you find a good school, your child will gain invaluable skills that will last a lifetime.

Child development experts have long believed that children should have exposure to household pet companions. Having a pet has many advantages:

- Pets teach children about the existence of other living creatures first-hand rather than on television.

- Pets help children understand nature’s ways and the authentic natural world rather than animated cartoons where all the animals, predators and prey, get along famously. Nice, but it teaches a false perception of the ways of the animal kingdom. Perhaps your toddler is not ready to watch the National Geographic channel where predators mercilessly run down their prey and eat them alive. But the misconceptions of movies such as “The Lion King” don’t prepare your child for the real cycle of life.

- Owning and caring for a pet teaches your child responsibility and accountability. Fish die when they aren’t fed. Hamsters squeal in pain if they’re squeezed. Puppies have housebreaking accidents that need to be cleaned up. Animals aren’t like stuffed Teddy bears; they need food, water, veterinary care, and a clean environment.

- Pets die. Children often have their first brush with death and grief when a beloved pet dies or must be euthanized. Understanding a pet’s death is a dress rehearsal for the death of Grandmother or Uncle Bob. Coping with death is an important part of a child’s socialization.

- Having a pet teaches toddlers the essential skill of empathy with other people and with animals. At this age, children should be developing a sense of compassion and emotional intimacy with others. This is how they learn to make friends and to avoid doing things that hurt others. Caring for a pet is the perfect opportunity for toddlers to learn kindness and tolerance.

- Pets are a lot of fun! Toddlers are endlessly fascinated watching hamsters run on their wheel, the crazy antics of ferrets, the playfulness of puppies and kittens, the graceful movements of goldfish, and the chattering of birds. Having a pet is not only great fun, but pets also provide valuable knowledge about the way real-life animals function in the world. With puppies, they find the only unconditional source of love in their lives.

If you think your toddler is ready to care for a pet, first consider what kind of pet is appropriate for your child’s age, degree of understanding how to care for the pet, and the child’s comprehension that these are living creatures that need daily care. For example, it would not be appropriate for a toddler to care for a large hookbill parrot such as a Macaw or African Grey. These talkative birds live a human lifespan, require special care, and have unpredictable natures; they can snap off a curious child’s finger in seconds! These birds are pets for adults, not children. If you feel your child is ready for a puppy, remember that the puppy will grow into a full-sized dog. Dogs known for aggressive temperaments such as American Pit Bull Terriers, Rotweilers, Chows, and Akitas aren’t good choices for a toddler. Good-natured dogs like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Poodles, and spaniels are a much better choice.

Not ready for puppies and kittens? Fish, guinea pigs and hamsters make outstanding first pets. Children learn to feed them, clean their environments, interact with them carefully and gently, and they provide hours of fun. Parakeets are also good choices; their bright colors and cheerful chattering are interesting and entertaining for a small child.

Pets can do wonders to enrich your child’s life. Working with animals can be a very rewarding experience and teach your kids many valuable lessons. If you feel your child is ready and responsible enough for a pet, choose wisely and teach your child how to care for another living creature.

“Hot Hot. Pain Pain Don’t Touch That”. Sound familiar, sound baby language. This is the word I often say to my child to warn her this is not for you to play with.

Indoor Hazardous To Toddlers

Inside your home, everybody knows is you have to cover electric sockets, stoves, and keeping chemicals and medicines out of children’s reach. But your home is beset with dangers you probably haven’t thought about. Do you know how dogs like to drink out of toilets? So do toddlers! There must be something innately fascinating about toilet bowls that lures dogs and children. Try keeping the lid down and the bathroom door shut. Your dog may be unhappy, but your child will be germ-free and worse things can happen is get drown in the toilet bowl.

If you have pets around in the house, beware of this. Toddlers are also drawn to pet food. Fish food, bird seed, dried dog food. Toddlers, with their perfectly reasonable logic, think that if it’s alright for the pets to eat, it must be alright for them to eat! After all, pets eat human food, so why can’t we eat animal food? Try gently reminding your toddler that animal food is only okay for animals, not for people. Be prepared for that ever-popular question, “But WHY?”

What are about those dozens tiny choking hazards in your home. Marbles, ball bearing, rubber bands, paper clips, twisty-ties from bread wrappers, coins, even food items like chips and crackers can be hazardous. Keep those household items out of reach. An old story telling is that physician have ever removed a small ball bearing from the nose of a five-year-old! It is always good to teach your toddler that loose items and their orifices isn’t safe to play with.

Outdoor Hazardous To Toddlers

Outside your home, toddlers think nothing of touching or picking up things out of curiosity that would make an adult shriek! Bugs, worms, plants – nothing’s safe from a four-year-old explorer. Plant like Mistletoe grows abundantly on trees much like moss. Kids are drawn to this pretty parasite and have no idea that it’s deadly poison when eat it. Jimsonweed is a common, rather pretty, roadside herb that causes intense hallucinations and psychotic behavior if chewed. These are just two examples of common plant hazards; teach your child never to put anything in his/her mouth that you haven’t okayed. Bugs are generally harmless if eaten, but it’s not a good idea to take chances.

Teach your toddlers never to touch a snake, lizard, turtle, toad, or any other creature of the outdoor world unless an adult is present. While most of these critters are harmless, toddlers don’t know a garden snake from a copperhead! Alligator snapping turtles can whack off a toddler’s tiny finger in a split second. If you live in a rural area, it’s imperative that you teach your child to leave outdoor citizens alone! If you go to a beach for play, teach your toddler that sea urchins, crabs, and jellyfish can hurt them despite their harmless and fascinating appearances.

Endless curiosity is part of the charm of watching a child grow up. Through children, we get a second chance to see the world through new eyes. Toddlers, in turn, get to see the world through adult eyes as we teach children how to temper curiosity with caution and point out that sometimes, fun things can be harmful. Be patient, let children learn, and be there to keep them from getting into trouble with their explorations. You will always worry about your children, it in the blood, parent and child thing. No matter what age they might be, at all time you can do your best to show them the difference between safe and sorry.