[blparent] putting a Christmas tree up when you have a little one

[David Andrews]

We had a bunch of fence-like plastic panels from which you could make 
an enclosure for the baby to play in (we jokingly called it "the 
stockade.")  We built a stockade around the Christmas tree for a 
couple years, making presents, ornaments, tree, and babies safe.  It 
also kept the dogs away, but not the cat.

Dave

At 11:01 AM 9/21/2011, you wrote:
>It's fine in theory, and I agree that twenty months isn't too young 
>to begin learning.  But expect to spend plenty of time and energy 
>teaching the lesson about leaving the Christmas tree alone.  It's 
>not going to sink in on the first try, or the second, or the 
>third.  If the tree is important enough as a tradition in your house 
>to make it worth the effort you'll spend, then go for it.  For me, 
>the tree wasn't important enough.  I didn't feel I had the time, 
>energy, or patience to spend two or three weeks guarding the 
>ornaments, even the durable ones.  I took a year off from tree 
>trimming, found other ways to decorate, and kept an atmosphere of 
>peace in my house, saving the tree for the next year when my little 
>girl could understand and appreciate it more.  It's a personal 
>decision, and there are many ways to approach it, not just one.
>
>Jo Elizabeth
>
>"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, 
>compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and 
>tolerant of the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you 
>will have been all of these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, 
>American scientist
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 9:46 AM
>To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [blparent] putting a Christmas tree up when you have a littleone
>
>>Put glass up high, durable down low, and begin teaching him. 20 
>>months is old enough to learn pretty just look no touching. I can't 
>>tell you how many children in my care and children of friends who 
>>we thought the tree was going to be a complete disaster with and it 
>>was no problem.
>>
>>Some people also put a short fence around the tree, but find that 
>>is worse as the kids just want to get in the forbidden area. So 
>>teaching seems to be better. I would not forgo the tree because of age.
>>
>>Bran
>>
>>
>>
>>"When we treat children's play as seriously as it deserves, we are 
>>helping them feel the joy that's to be found in the creative 
>>spirit. It's the things we play with and the people who help us 
>>play that make a great difference in our lives."
>>- Fred Rogers
>>
>>Brandy Wojcik
>>Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team Leader
>>www.playtoachieve.com
>>(512) 689-5045
>>
>>Looking for team members nation wide!
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
>>To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:04 PM
>>Subject: [blparent] putting a Christmas tree up when you have a little one
>>
>>
>>>Hi all.  I know Christmas is a few months away but am wondering what anyone
>>>has done, if anything, to protect their Christmas tree from the little one.
>>>Michael is walking, mobile, and into everything. He's 20 months old. He's
>>>starting to talk and he sounds so cute.  Although the tree is small and it's
>>>one of those tabletop trees, I'm afraid Michael will start messing around
>>>with and pulling off ornaments without me knowing about it.  I just don't
>>>want him to get hurt or anything like that so I'm looking for ideas. Maybe
>>>it would be better not to put one up or if we do, hang a few ornaments on
>>>the very top so he can't get to them?  Thanks in advance for any
>>>suggestions.
>>>
>>>Leslie