Ayben Ertem said, "Ensuring the safety of children and being overprotective are not the same thing." How well he said it.
From the moment the human baby is born, he is dependent on the person who will care for him. This is the nature of the human child. Studies have shown that babies die when they do not have a caregiver to provide these bonds.
This caregiving includes nutrition, love, play and protection from external factors. It is very important to review where we stand on this protection issue as a society. Protection or restriction?
From the moment the baby is born, some protection measures come into play. Lying position, head position when vomiting, not keeping pillows and toys in the bed, using a sleeping bag instead of covering with a blanket, etc.
When he starts crawling, closing the sockets in the areas he can reach, not leaving covers hanging down on tables and coffee tables, not placing objects that he can swallow nearby, etc. …
When he starts walking, take security precautions on the balcony, doors and windows, eliminate glass, cutting and piercing objects, install a lock system on some cabinets, etc...
What would happen if these were not achieved? One of the basic requirements of parenting, "creating a safe environment for the child to explore," is not fulfilled.
Play out a scene like this. An 18-month-old child entered a room of the house. In the middle of the room is a coffee table with lots of trinkets and books, flower pots on the floor. Flowers and candles in a glass jar. When an 18-month-old child who is eager to explore enters this room, you will either constantly say "don't touch/do not" in order to control it, or "the child will face the risk of being harmed while trying to explore." Instead, you can provide the child with an area for exploration by taking safety precautions for the child.
You may say, "Shouldn't he learn not to touch them?" Of course, let him learn. But should he learn when he's just starting to walk and is open to discovery? Or should it safely recognize objects, understand what they are used for, and then learn?
Are you ready to observe how your relationship and communication with the child changes after the safe exploration environment required for a child is provided? “Stop, don't!” Let your child play safely without saying Wouldn't it be nice to watch the river and introduce it to new objects?
“I've made my decision, mother, I will go and find out where the stream ends. I want to see and know what is there, what is in other places.”
Little Black Fish - Samed Behrengi
Read: 0
