Despite all of this natural exploration phase, it is up to the adult to remain vigilant and protect the child from themselves. Some things the child will do or find to explore are dangerous to their well being and a toddler has to learn the difference. Threats abound in and outside of the house and it remains up to the adult to supervise and teach the toddler the difference between what is harmful and what is not.

Inside your home, everybody knows about covering 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. 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.

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 okay for the pets to eat, it must be okay 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?"

There are dozens of choking hazards in your home. Rubber bands, paper clips, twisty-ties from bread wrappers, coins, even food items like chips and crackers can be hazardous. If you were to interview a hundred ER physicians, most of them would tell you stories about clashes between little kids and household items. A classic story is the physician who removed a nickel from the nose of a five-year-old! This is a good time to teach your toddler that loose items and their orifices isn't a good match.

Outside, toddlers think nothing of touching and/or picking up things out of curiosity that would make an adult shriek! Bugs, worms, plants - nothing's safe from a four-year-old sleuth. If you live in the south, you know that Mistletoe grows abundantly on trees much like moss. Kids are drawn to this pretty parasite and have no idea that, if ingested, it's deadly poison! 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 live near a beach, teach your toddler that sea urchins, crabs, and jellyfish can hurt them despite their harmless and fascinating appearances.