   
 |
|
 Ask Dr. Jana
Toddler Only Wants to Play with Cell Phone and Other Things with Buttons | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
Hi! I'm a new member to your site, and I thought I'd ask you a question in regards to my 20-month-old son. My question is, is it normal for him to play with cell phones, computers, and anything with buttons? Also he is not interested in playing with all the toys that we buy for him, instead he'll play with the radio, the VCR, and all that kind of stuff that he can disassemble. I'm not sure if he is just curious or what, but maybe you can provide me an answer to all my questions. I would really appreciate it.— Mazdad | | | ANSWER |
September 11, 2001 | | | Dear Mazdad,
Welcome to drSpock.com! Your question is a very common one and touches on several key toddler behaviors.
Your son's desire to play with (and take apart) things with buttons and small pieces is quite normal. While we all tend to pay attention to when toddlers learn to walk and talk, this is also an age when children continue to develop their fine motor skills. You'll want to keep a close eye on what your son explores--both so that he won't come across (or break off) a small object that he could potentially choke on and so that you can try to make sure your TV, VCR, and cell phone remain functional when he's through with them. In turn, by letting him play with these "toys," you're helping him experience real-life learning.
In general, I would suggest keeping him away from tools and other potentially dangerous objects. It's important to realize that at his age out of sight really does tend to mean out of mind--so don't leave hazardous temptations sitting around. And, of course, you'll need to keep an ever-watchful eye on him to make sure that he's safe.
As for your comment about your son's disinterest in the toys you buy for him, let me first tell you that this is a very common scenario for the parents of most toddlers, and there are a couple of useful messages to take from it. First, you don't need to spend a lot of your hard-earned money on expensive toys in order to keep your child entertained. Second, there are lots of everyday items in your home that can really help foster your child's creativity and keep him entertained.
Thanks for writing in.— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
|
| | 
|