It is important to prevent toddlers from eating crayons by limiting access and supervising their use. Here's how to address the issue:
Strategies to Stop a Toddler from Eating Crayons
It's common for toddlers to explore their world through their mouths. Crayons, unfortunately, are often a target. Here are effective strategies to stop this behavior, drawing from expert advice:
Keeping Crayons Out of Reach
- Storage: Store crayons in a location that is completely inaccessible to your toddler. This includes high shelves, locked cabinets, or containers they cannot open.
- Regular Checks: Regularly check your home for stray crayons that might be within the toddler's reach.
Supervised Coloring
- Direct Oversight: Only allow coloring activities when you can actively supervise your toddler. This means staying close and observing their actions during the activity.
- Redirection: If you see them put a crayon in their mouth, immediately redirect them to another activity, like using the crayon to draw.
- Verbal Communication: Gently tell them "crayons are for drawing, not eating". Toddlers learn by repetition and association.
Choosing Safe Crayons
- Non-toxic: Always purchase non-toxic crayons or colored pencils to reduce the risk of harmful chemical ingestion.
- Unscented: Choose unscented crayons or colored pencils. Some toddlers are more likely to eat items that have appealing scents.
- Size: Select chunkier crayons that are more difficult for small mouths to swallow.
Alternative Activities
- Sensory Play: Provide a variety of sensory activities that are safe for toddlers to explore, such as play dough, blocks, or water play.
- Edible Art: Explore edible art activities like using pudding or yogurt for finger painting on a safe surface.
Create a Chart
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Out of Reach | Store crayons away from toddler's access, such as high shelves or locked areas. |
| Supervision | Allow coloring only under direct supervision and stop attempts to eat crayons. |
| Safe Crayons | Use non-toxic and unscented crayons or colored pencils. |
| Alternative Play | Introduce safe sensory activities or edible art. |
By consistently implementing these strategies, you can effectively prevent your toddler from eating crayons and promote safer creative play.
