Toddler Tricks - 4

Ways to trick your baby:

Problem:  My toddlers love to "help" me do chores.  They especially love to help me cook.  With a hot stove, bubbling oil, or a burning oven broiling, this can be really dangerous.

Solution:  Give your kid something related to cooking that's safe.  Let them play with it, figure it out, and then have them hand it to you at a safe moment.  Discovering every aspect of the new object will keep them occupied while you flip the french fries, put the roast in, or boil the water.

Ways your baby can trick you:

Problem: Sometimes, when you give them a simple task, they can misunderstand you, either accidentally, or, in this case - when I asked them to help me set the table by putting the napkins in place - on purpose.

Solution:  When you give them a task that takes them out of the room, keep listening for tell-tale sounds that they may not be doing exactly as you've asked.  Key words include: uh oh!, oh no!, mine!, and - my personal favorite -  shhh!

Alternately, you can just put them in the cupboard for safe keeping.

Just kidding, of course.  Mostly.