Toddlers love to eat. In fact they have a habit of putting everything they come across into their mouths. When it comes to food, they will try to eat everything especially what they see us eating - unfortunately what we eat is not always suitable for them. Here are a couple of quick and simple toddler finger food recipes that you can try.

Sweet Potato Sticks

This is quick and simple and kids love them simply because of the color.

Peel a bright orange sweet potato and cut into two inch sticks about half an inch thick. Microwave on high for about five minutes then allow to cool thoroughly. They can be stored for up to five days in an airtight container although serving fresh is best. You will need to experiment with your microwave to get the best consistency. You should be able to hold a stick without it collapsing in a heap of mush.

Apple Rings With Cinnamon

Peel and core a couple of red apples - the harder the apple the better. Cut into rings and dust with cinnamon (no sugar). Microwave for two minutes until a little soft but not mushy. Allow to cool then watch them disappear. Store for three days.

Pear Rings With Nutmeg

Similar to the apple rings - peel and core a couple of hard pears. Cut into rings and microwave for about a minute - sprinkle a little nutmeg (not too much) and let cool. If you get the nutmeg sprinkle just right then kids love these because of the color.

If you are looking for toddler finger food recipes then keep coming back. I will publish more over the next couple of days. Happy finger food chomping for your toddler.

I am often amazed when I read stories of toddlers surviving accidents that we as adults could find fatal, or at least in hospital in a serious condition.

The latest incident involved an 18 month toddler who had climbed a balcony rail and fallen two meters (about seven feet), landed on the roof of a shed where she rolled and fell another two meters to the ground. For some reason there was an old mattress on the roof of the shed which helped to break the first fall, but there was only solid ground awaiting the next fall.

As I move closer to this blogs first birthday I am putting together a series of 'best of' posts. The previous 'best of' post was the "baby' series. Today's post is the best of 'toddlers'.

It is difficult finding the best of posts particularly when I have done so many. This is part one and contains a real mixed bunch.

You don't have to have a speech or hearing impairment to use sign language. Many parents find they can communicate with their toddlers from much earlier age and my reprint of an article by Jackie Durnin on Using Sign Language With Toddlers was very popular.

Sign language may help in teaching your toddler to use the potty, if not, my post on Is Painless Potty Training Possible For A Toddler may help ease the trauma.

Toddlers and potty training often leads to temper tantrums, particularly the two year old tantrums. My post on How To Deal With Toddler Temper Tantrums will be of great benefit to those experiencing tantrums - toddler tantrums that is.

There are times when some of the simplest things really bring a smile to your face. I was in the kitchen the other night preparing dinner. With me were my one and two year old daughters. There antics where such a delight to watch - I wish I had some photos.

They were playing happily when a moth landed on the floor in front of them. It was obviously on its last legs, but the girls didn't know.

Being only little they kept a safe distance whilst at the same time being totally fascinated by it. Their squeals of delight every time it moved, or tried to fly was so cute. Every time it got to close they would back away, however they followed it for a good half hour, squealing and giggling and egging each other on to get a little closer.

Finally, the moth moved no more. It had gone to moth heaven. No more entertainment, no more fun. The youngest of two turned around as demanded I get the broom and remove it. You can imagine a one year old's language. She was quite demanding though.

It was cute, it was sweet, it was fun to listen to and watch. I wonder, at what age to they change and start pulling wings or legs off. Are boys a little different to girls. I hope they don't lose that innocence, at least, not for many years. I also hope they never resort to pulling wings or legs. Even in the last of stage of its life, a simple moth has provided so much.

When should parents be concerned that their toddler has dyslexia? When should you be worried about speech or letter identification?

Dyslexia can be extremely hard to diagnose in toddlers as many of its symptoms are developmentally common for all toddlers. However, the more traits that are present, the more likely it is that your toddler may need some help. Dyslexia may be diagnosed where there is a combination of traits and a lack of progress over time.

As your baby moves from crawler to toddler they start to experience the joy of independence. This is independence can be harnessed in many learning experiences including potty training.

Being a Toddler is so tough. You have just learned how to walk and now your trying to learn how to talk. As you start to pick up the language, your mom and dad start trying to introduce their version of manners.

It's a fact of life, toddlers will misbehave. It goes with the territory. The question is, are they being mischievous or are they being willful? As a parent of the hardest things to cope with is not the behavior so much as the unpredictability.

Some days it seems like they are perfect angels and then snap, they go off the deep end. Other days they start and finish in the same state, either non stop mischief or a perfect angels.

Young children have one major problem when it comes to punishment and that is connecting their actions with the ramifications, particularly if those ramifications come some time after the event. If there is this disconnection, how do you as a parent deal with bad behavior in a toddler?

The appearance of temper tantrums does not mean that your little one has turned into an unpleasant child. In fact, tantrums are an inevitable part of growing up. As toddlers leave babyhood behind, they want some control over their life. Now they are able to walk and run, their physical independence and natural curiosity frequently put them in places that are neither healthy nor safe. When parents intervene to protect their child and say "no," the youngster becomes angry and frustrated. Lacking the ability to express themselves orally, toddlers display their frustration by throwing temper tantrums.

Kids being kids, anything is possible, then again, somethings are impossible. As parents, all we can do is try.