Q: My toddler likes to be carried. How can I help her be active?
Skills
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It can be difficult when your daughter wants to be carried around all the time, after all, there is only so much you can do with one free hand! Encourage your daughter to be independent by praising her when she does walk on her own. If your daughter wants to be carried, give her the choice to walk while holding your hand or ride in the stroller (most toddlers will pick the former). Giving your daughter the opportunity to make her own choices can help build her confidence and self-esteem. You can also try letting her push her favorite stuffed animal or doll in a toy stroller or help you push your stroller when you are out. Another idea is to introduce her to fun alternatives to being carried, such as riding a scooter (e.g., Mini Micro 3in1, www.microkickboard.com) or a run bike made just for toddlers (e.g., Wishbone trike/bike, www.wishbonedesign.com).
Jennie Ito, Ph.D.
Child Development Expert
Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.