Focus on the Family Magazine - April/May 2024

KIDS & TEENS / HACKS & FACTS
AGES 0 TO 3
LITTLE
WAYS TO
SOOTHE
When my 18-month-old
son’s schedule is interrupted,
I’ve found that giving him a
bath and letting him play in
the water has a great calming
effect. Other times,
soothing comes in the form
of simply sitting on the floor
together and looking at his
favorite board books. An
extra snack also helps to
ease the stress of a crazy
schedule. Reaching for
his favorite cereal keeps
his hands busy and results
in a contented baby.
And if all else fails, a little
fresh air does the trick. My
toddler is usually much
more content outdoors as
I push him in the stroller or
watch him as he plays in
the grass.
—Kimmy Lanning
ABCs of
brushing
toddler proofing
on the go
When my kids were toddlers,
I’d sing the ABC song
to them slowly while I
brushed their teeth. They
enjoyed hearing me sing,
especially when I’d make
my voice sound silly. It
made brushing their teeth
fun, but it also helped with
my young children learning
timing cues from a familiar
song—when to switch
sides and how much time
they should spend brushing
each time.
—Melissa Johnson
chomper bites
I’ve found that my toddlers
and young children will eat
almost any food if it’s in bitesize
pieces and skewered
on a toothpick. We’ve found
safe, animal-shaped toothpicks
for this very purpose.
—Brooke Schwanke
During a road trip to visit my in-laws,
my husband and I came up with a safety
plan for our 2-year-old that our hosts
were gracious to allow. We knew he’d
want to touch everything at his grandparents’
house. So, immediately upon
arrival, we moved all breakables out
of our toddler’s reach. Next, we put a
reminder sign on the steep basement
steps that read, “Keep Door Closed.”
Then we installed a portable baby gate
at the upper staircase. Showing my
in-laws that we respect their home and
take responsibility for our child made
the visit less stressful and much safer.
—Jennifer Henn
ILLUSTRATIONX - AMBER DAY / ADOBE STOCK - MUNCHKINMOO
8
APR / MAY 2024