Life Through the Eyes of a Toddler

Part of being a parent is also being a teacher. Your kids look up to you, mimic you and want to be like you. But have you ever stopped to think about how things must look in their little worlds? We were all kids once, but many of us have forgotten about the curiosity, wonder and giant messes that we embraced at that age. On a day with little patience left in the tank, maybe looking at things from their perspective will help.

What we see: Dangerous bungee cords with hooks.

What they see: Stretchy strings that connect things.

I’ll admit to thinking of bungee cords as adult tools, but with proper supervision, they can become fun learning tools for kids. Jamie Trubiroha, Olathe, says, “My kids love them. How they stretch, hook chairs together, make chains—they even had a pulley rigged on the swing set. Guitar strings on the fence, limbo, bucket carriers, etc….I have had to overcome that they can hurt themselves and just let them explore outdoors with them. Bungee cords suddenly become the stuff of scientists!”

What we see: Food.

What they see: Objects in their environment.

It’s very common to hear a parent say to a child, “don’t play with your food.” However, in a toddler’s eyes, it really isn’t food. It’s the gateway to a new land full of exciting animals and vehicles. Laura Enders, Kansas City, says, “My son loves playing with his food. It becomes trains, animals and other interesting objects. If it’s a train, he runs it along his plate or the table making train noises, singing Thomas songs and happily proclaiming that it’s a train. The best is when he held up a chunk of sauerkraut and confidently stated, ‘It’s a sea horse!’”  Have you wondered how your child perceives his environment? A plate of food might be the key you need to understand him better.

What we see: Poop. Lots and lots of poop.

What they see: An art medium.

We have all had this happen. Poop everywhere. Why poop is so exciting to toddlers, we will never know. Fallon Collene, Olathe, says, “My boys used to explore the contents of their diapers and use it as an art medium for the walls! They learned that while it made for beautiful artwork, it made Mom VERY angry….We had to start duct taping their diapers on, and that’s when they learned about teamwork, because they would help each other remove the tape.” Most of us would prefer that another art medium is explored, but creativity and teamwork are good qualities for a pair of motivated toddlers to learn. Still, no one will fault a parent for redirecting to finger paints.

What we see: Empty toilet paper rolls meaning that we need to go to the store.

What they see: Hours and hours of play, all credited to a few toilet paper rolls!

Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and other pieces of cardboard are free and in abundance. Laura Enders, Kansas City, says, “The cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls and paper towels are magic. They go from being a telescope, to a tunnel for cars and trains, to a slide for tiny toys and beyond.” Cardboard boxes also fall in this category. Big blank canvases can be just the inspiration that little ones need to explore what they see on their own terms.

What we see: Furniture that should really remain on the floor.

What they see: A lifeguard stand.

My kids do this too. They find random pieces of furniture and move them to create new buildings and towers. Michelle Johnson, Lee’s Summit, recalls, “When I was still teaching preschool out of our home, I had gone to the bathroom and come back to the room to find 2-and-a-half-year-old Demetrius sitting in a chair on top of a table. I said, ‘Demetrius, you need to get down, please. Buddy, that is not safe!’ His response was, in an incredibly sad voice, ‘Mommy, it is safe! I’m watching the kids so they are safe!’ He was being a lifeguard.” In spite of her son’s rather high vantage point, Johnson caught a glimpse of his resourcefulness and the caring heart that he has for others.

Perhaps the thing that stands out the most when looking at life through the eyes of toddlers is the simple joy and wonder that follow them everywhere they go. The list of things they play with doesn’t need to be elaborate or expensive to keep them entertained and content. Rather, the ability to see potential in everyday things and use them to recreate what they see adults doing is what gets them excited. Maybe as parents we need to take a break from being the teacher every now and then and let our kids teach us.

Rebecca Ishum lives in South KC with her husband, Sean, and 3-year-old quadruplets. Every day, she is faced with the choice of whether to force things through her worldview or let her kids explore life on their terms. Read more at ABeautifulRuckus.com.