Does your two-year-old daughter waltz around the mall in her ballet costume? Does your three-year-old son crawl up instead of go down the slide? Quite peculiar, yes, but your toddlerís obsessions and seemingly weird behaviors make perfect sense in his topsy-turvy world. Read on and find out why.
Running around naked
Bath time’s over and there he goes, darting towards your living room without his clothes on. This is the nth time you’ve chased him around the house waving his jumpsuit, while he romps in his birthday suit!
It is common for a toddler, who is oblivious of social norms, to delight in the freedom of not wearing clothes. Moira Bunyi, who has an M.A. in Family Life and Child Development from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, says there could be many reasons behind this “weird” habit. However, it could also be your response to his behavior that encourages him. “When your child does something that elicits a response he likes, he will do it over and over again. When parents or caregivers laugh and say itís funny or cute, he will respond by doing it all the more,” says Bunyi. He will outgrow this habit once he starts fancying clothes and choosing what to wear. Meanwhile, Bunyi suggests some fun ways to get him covered up: Play a game such as “How fast can you dress up?” or encourage him to dress quickly so that the bedtime story can be read right away.
Walking in your shoes
Anyone who says that your shoes are too big to fill has not met your three-year-old daughter; she has no trouble getting into them. She slips into your shoes, sandals, or slippers with ease, takes a good look in the mirror and smiles with satisfaction. Just when you think it is simply footwear fetish, you spy your mobile phone in her hand, your bag over her shoulder, and wait, is that your blush on her cheeks, too?
“Toddlers are fascinated with Mom or Dad’s stuff because they want to be like Mom and Dad. They like your cell phone because they see you using it every day. They like Mom’s makeup and Dad’s shoes,” explains Bunyi. So don’t be surprised when you look at her and find yourself staring at your mini me.
Bunyi adds, “They are also very much into imaginative play, so wearing big shoes helps them become what they want to be.”
Click here to see more weird toddler habits and the reasons behind them.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see more weird toddler habits and the reasons behind them.
Flushing toys
What’s the deal with the toilet bowl? Is it the sound it makes when the water goes down? Is it the sight of spinning water sucked by an invisible entity beneath that mysterious hole? Or is it the thrill of solving the puzzle of the disappearing rubber ducky? The answer: All of the above.
“Toddlers are explorers and they leave no stone unturned,” says Citadel Caparas-De Castro, M.D., pediatrician at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Manila.
At this age, they are beginning to learn cause and effect relationships and are acquiring problem solving skills, she says. This explains their fascination for water in motion, the suctioning ability of the bowl, and the disappearance of items thrown into it.
Watching the same movie
You may not know who starred in 2008’s Oscar-winning film, but you can name all the lead and supporting characters in Toy Story, and recite a few lines in Horton Hears A Who. Will he ever get tired of watching the same movie repeatedly?
“Children are comforted by routine and familiarity so they will want to watch the same DVD movie millions of times. You just have to wait until they outgrow it,” says Bunyi. Though it drives you crazy, your child learns by repetition, so channel his interest towards a different medium, such as books. But be prepared to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar over and over and over.
Walking up ramps in a mall
You know you’re a toddler’s mom when you see yourself walking up ramps with no grocery cart but a kid in tow. Why can’t he use the stairs like everyone else? It’s as if his feet have wheels that automatically turn towards a ramp.
It is exciting for curious toddlers to try unconventional ways of doing things and test the limits of their physical capabilities. What adults consider peculiarities are, in fact, developmental milestones.
“Children are individuals, not miniature adults. They learn concepts through stages and complete these stages at their own pace,” says Dr. Caparas-De Castro.
So, enjoy their antics and have fun learning with them as they explore their environment and discover a hundred and one possibilities in their own “weird” way.
Click here to see SP moms' stories on their toddler's weird habits.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see SP moms' stories on their toddler's weird habits.
My Toddler’s Weird Habit
Here are a few toddler obsessions shared by SP moms.
“My toddler, Nique, is so engrossed with Kung Fu Panda. She does her own impression of Tigress, and shows everyone her fierce look and big claws. She growls, kicks, jumps, and does kung fu stances everywhere!” —Via Laurice Niebres on daughter Dominique Bettina
“Martina needs to hold her collar or blouse strap every time she drinks milk.”—Cindy Mercado on daughter Martina
Photo from flickr.com
SOURCES:
● Citadel Caparas-De Castro, M.D., pediatrician, University of Sto. Tomas Hospital, Espana, Manila; ACOP Children’s Clinic, Antipolo City.
● Moira Bunyi, M.A., FLCD, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
