It's the age of exploration for those above three years.

One moment the grandmother watched the cute little grandson jumping all over the place with a smile on her happy face enjoying the antics of the lovable little one. Then, barely five minutes after she turned into the kitchen, a crash broke the calm silence of the hall and that broke the old lady running back to the grandson, anxiety written clearly on her face. And she had reason to be for the young rascal had put a plastic stool near a shelf, reached up with extended hand and clumsily toppled a bottle of wine onto the floor, splintering it into a hundred pieces, staining the floor with its reddish-brown colour and permeating the surrounding air with an aroma some adults would certainly enjoy.

She threw up in despair at the scene that greeted her, shouting for the grandson to stay put and not move as sharp glass pieces threaten to cut into the flesh of the little one. Furthermore the floor was wet with slippery wine, certainly not a safe place for a little boy of three going on four years. In her worry she shouted and scolded. No longer was that grandson cute and cheeky but naughty and dangerous.

Wearing a pair of thick-soled slippers, she carefully move in towards her grandson, swoop him up and away from that dangerous splinter-strewn area. Looking all over the child, she was relieved to find nowhere a cut or bloodstain.

When she met me, she told me of the possible danger that could have been possible if not for the lucky stars that had shone upon her then. Yes, the child had indeed been lucky to escape unhurt and stars were not around then as it was broad daylight. Imagine what could have happened had the bottle hit the child as it dropped to the ground! And when the child fell off the stool he could have been cut by shards of glass from the broken bottle. With the floor wet and slippery, a fall like that could have broken a bone. So, without pain, a cut or even a fracture, this young explorer can be deemed to be real lucky.

Children at the age of three and four are curious little rascals who have to be watched at least twelve hours a day, relaxing only when such young explorers take a nap. When the young ones are awake, expect them to look for toys in everything that they set eyes on. Dangerous things such as knives and bottles must be placed out of their reach. Do not tempt them with a position they can reach with some ingenuity. Just like this grandson, any little boy would be able to come up with a stool, a chair, a block of wood, a box and a ladder to extend their hands to grab the things they want. Don't challenge their inventiveness or they will show you the amount of brain cells they already possess even at that tender age. In their curiosity, they would explore the whole house for the house is their first playground. So child-minders and parents must be alert at all times.

I know that is a lot of effort but then years would roll by and soon the opportunity to enjoy their presence will be lost forever. Their exploration keep us on our toes and give us the chance to be active and get some exercise in the process. So our children keep us young until one day when they fly away from the nest and we are left alone to watch television and grow old as the television takes it turn to watch us as our muscles gradually dwindle into fat. So, be glad the children are around to provoke some kind of action or alertness.