Safety consciousness in toddlers

Tiarnan, twenty months, is a very careful boy. He evaluates his environment, moment by moment and doesn't seem to miss much that would be relevant to him - whether it be an opportunity to do something interesting - or an issue that might be of personal safety concern.

The 21st of October is an example. He started to go downstairs but noted, as he looked ahead of him, a difference in the surface: it had been polished and therefore reflected somewhat more light than usual. He understood what this meant and DIDN'T step onto it. Instead, he sat down, and went down the stairs, not on foot, but on his bottom - one step at a time, bump, bump, bump.

I thought that was a smart response to the situation. First, he understood what a polished surface would mean from the point of view of slipperiness. Then, he had an idea about how he might make the situation safer for himself. It is reassuring that he is so responsive to his environment.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged seven years and ten months, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and three months, and Tiarnan, twenty months, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)