This comes to mind today because of some pictures that came my way. Having spent a couple of decades working in the field with small children as a Licensed Childcare Provider (among other things :-)) part of my on-going education involved graphic films similar to the ones they used to show 15 year-olds who were taking Drivers Ed. classes. Except these films showed the often sad results of grownups either being inattentive or just plain lacking the experience of graphic images.
Because I shouldn't be the only one to have these things seared into my previously innocent brain I thought I'd offer the service of driving the message home.
YES! Kids are amazingly resilient. YES! In a very real way it's a bit of a miracle that any of us survive to adulthood. Still...I think it serves for us to be mindful that children don't have the foresight that comes from many life experiences. Sure, we can't just give them the gift of our experience and truly, experience is the best teacher and sometimes kids need the space to fall down so they can pick themselves up and learn to master something new.
But let's be mindful about providing an environment that minimizes the kind of experiences that may have long-term and/or even permanent consequences. Like considering the top four foods that children under three choke on - Popcorn, Peanuts, Grapes and Hotdogs - if they can't be cut up into small bites just don't make them available until they're over three. Do you realize that a child's stomach is about the size of their fist? Given that, consider how small the diameter of their esophagus!
And I can't tell you the number of times I've seen young children walking (toddling?) around with something they could easily impale themselves on. Now... you may think that melodramatic but keep in mind, I'm the one who watched the video of the 4-year-old running down the hall with the toothbrush in his mouth only to trip and fall and push it through the soft palate of his mouth. Fortunately the parents had the good sense NOT to pull it out or it could have cost that little guy his life!
Which brings us to todays pictures ~~
See what happens when you run with a fork --
You're probably thinking the fork came DOWN on his nose?
Think again...
Now I'm of a mind that there are waaaay too many people wanting to dictate 'rules' to others about what they can and cannot do all in the name of 'safety'... I find it quite insulting and happen to currently live in a state that seems to want to legislate everything... as if none of us have a brain in our head! Maybe if we all start standing firmly and demonstrating enough independent common sense our kids will suffer fewer pain-filled mishaps and my city counsel will stop talking about outlawing wading pools!
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