7 Baffling Things Toddlers Do

Every parent of a toddler will come across bewildering behaviours exhibited by their tiny tot for which no adult explanation can account for. For instance, why do toddlers love taking off all their clothes, often at strange moments and stranger places ? Or why do they insist on the same food at mealtimes, only to turn their noses up at the tried-at-tested recipe one fine day out of the blue ?

Even if parents cannot fathom the logic behind the actions, toddlers almost always have a perfectly good reason for behaving the way they do. Experts advise parents not to be overly concerned about these unusual behaviours, because most of them are perfectly normal, and usually (and thankfully!) short-lived.

• Conundrum 1. My toddler is frightened of the most ordinary things.

Many kids have some `understandable' fears such as fear of the dark, of imaginary monsters, or of loud noises such as thunder. HOwever, some kids are scared of the most commonplace objects - for instance, 5-year-old Su used to be absolutely terrified of brooms.

"We were mystified by her phobia, until Su became old enough to talk about it," said her mother, Anna. Apparently, the bristles on brooms reminded Su of the hair of a scary witch she once saw in a television drama. Fortunately, Su grew out of her fear by the time she was 4. Her parents' advice ? "Don't dismiss or get angry at your child's fears, even if they seem irrational to you. Plenty of reassurance and patience works far better than annoyance or frustration.

• Conundrum 2. My toddler starts screaming for me whenever I talk on the phone.

Everytime Susan picks up her mobile phone to make or answer a call, her 18-month-old toddler, Brian, ambles over as fast as he can, clings on to her leg and starts whining for her attention. " He could be perfectly happy playing with his toys, but when that phone is pressed to my ear, he starts making his loud protests," laments Susan.

One simple reason why this can happen is that young kids hate being interrupted in the middle of a game, or some other fun activity, that they are engaged in with the parents in question. Another explanation is that they have no concept of time - "I'll be done in a few minutes!" does nothing to reassure them. The solution? Keep a box of items that can divert your kid's attention , and buy you a few minutes' peace, within easy reach when you need to use the phone.

• Conundrum 3. My toddler is frightened of the most ordinary things.

Three-year-old Bill loves to get back to basics by progressively shedding every single item of clothng he has on in the course of just one morning. "He hates any kind of clothing," concludes his mother, May. "I even have to use scotch tape to secure the pull-up diapers which he wears at bedtime !"

Well, look at it from your kid's point of view. If he is feeling the heat, what's the quickest way and most obvious way of getting comfortable ? Sometimes, it's also the fact that they relish in their recent found abilities to strip bare - it's fun,and the looks on their parent's faces are even more amusing. Rather than get all bothered over it, let your child have his way - it'll be something you'll all laugh over when he grows out if this phase.

• Conundrum 4. My toddler is frightened of the most ordinary things.

When 2-year-old Mandy started to display a fondness for cheese, her mother Fiona was delighted. She stocked up on all types of cheese - slices, sticks, cubes and so on. Imagine her chagrin when her capricious daughter's tastes suddenly changed ! "The cheese was left untouched and I had to throw it all out," sighed Fiona.

These culinary U-turns can be triggered by changes in appetite or mood. Toddlers are notoriously fussy eaters and what tastes great one day may just foul the next. Another possibility is that they are exercising their newly discovered sense of control, and are trying to push the boundaries by attempting to put their tiny feet down. Your best bet is to stay calm and casually reintroduce the food in a month's time. Chances are, it might find its way back on your kid's list of `favourites'.

• Conundrum 5. My toddler is fascinated with toilets.

Toilets obsession is by no means unusual among toddlers. Try seeing it from their point of view - here is a wonderful and magical contraption that can whisk away their emissions with just a flush ! Naturally, kids wonder where all the much goes, and some take the further step of actively and physically examining the loo - any loo - in an attempt to find the answer. - No matter how embarrassed you may be when your child heads straight for the washroom wherever you visit, don't try to shoo him off with deadly threats. The best way is to spend an hour or so being his partner in crime - show him how the toilet works, and explain how each mechanism has its purpose. Don't be mortified - no kid has ever spent his childhood staring down a toilet chute without getting bored at some stage.

• Conundrum 6. My toddler says or does the same thing over and over and over.

Every morning for the past month, my three-year-old son asks me as i head out the door, "Mommy, where are you going ? " The best part is, he makes this same query at least 15 times before I manage to get going, even though the answer - "Going to work, babe!" - is always and invariably the same.

Sometimes, it's just another one of their ingenious delay tactics. Other times, it's due to the fact that your kids simply love to keep you talking - the subject matter isn't of the least importance. Repetition could also stern from a child's love of routine; rituals reassure them greatly.

You can always try to steer your child in an entirely fresh direction, by introducing a new topic, or a different activity. However, do be warned that this may just motivate him to start a new line of repetitive questions, or a new game that he will want to play with you - 50 times over.

Conundrum 7. My toddler suddenly becomes shy with people he knows well.

Mike visits his grandparents on a monthly basis, something which he has done since he was a wee baby. When he arrives, Granny eagerly stretches out her arms and calls out a warm welcome, but he refuses to approach her, choosing instead to hide behind his mother's skirt. What's the reason for these sudden `shy' episodes ?

"I try to remember that toddlers don't view time as we do, and a month is a long period in the life of a child," say Mike's mother, Ling. "I encourage my parents to take it slowly, and not to overwhelm him - a warm-up session usually helps in getting him to start play with the `strangers' again. " As a child matures, his memory and sense of time improves, and these `shy' incidences will gradually lessen.