
Originally Posted by
fiorinda
My own children used crayons regularly at this age - it's normal for small children to be given crayons and paper, it's good for the development of their manual dexterity, their creativity, their understanding of how the world works, all kinds of things. And yes, they chew them - that's why crayons are made non-toxic.
Mine didn't, because there are innumerable other toys and learning activities that allow toddlers to develop fine motor skills and explore the world that are infinitely more age-appropriate than crayons. Crayons aren't intended for use by toddlers--that's why there's a "not for children under age X" on the package, X varying according to the design of the crayon. I've seen some "jumbo" crayons that were for children age 3, and some mid-sized "glitter" crayons not for use by small children, as well as the the standard-sized crayons (those that are about the diameter of a pencil). While most children's crayons are non-toxic (the non-toxicity of any crayon made in China is questionable) they are certainly not intended for human consumption.
Children who are teething or in a "mouthing" stage shouldn't be given access to anything--food, toy, or otherwise--that is just as likely to break into chunks large enough to present a choking hazard as crumble into bits small enough to be inhaled into the lungs. That's why we baby-proof our homes, supervise small children as best we can no matter what they're doing, and do things like cut & mash their food for them.
In most communities, there are regulations that the toys, activity centers, learning stations and furniture in the toddler room at a licensed nursery school or day care center have to be cleaned and disinfected daily, or immediately after an "accident." (omg, can you imagine the insanity of disinfecting the crayons?)
MM
"Our past is a story existing only in our minds. Look, analyze, understand, and forgive. Then, as quickly as possible, chuck it." ~ Marianne Williamson