Why are toddlers considered to be at a significant safety risk?

Toddlers are considered to be at a significant safety risk primarily because they do not fully understand risks and, at the same time, are mobile enough to explore their environments. This combination of factors makes it easy for them to encounter potentially hazardous situations. Their natural curiosity drives them to investigate everything around them, but their cognitive development has not yet equipped them with the ability to foresee dangers or make safe choices. They may not recognize the consequences of climbing on furniture, touching sharp objects, or getting too close to hot surfaces. This increased mobility, combined with a lack of risk awareness, is why extra vigilance is required when caring for toddlers.

The other options do not adequately explain this safety concern. For example, being too small to reach dangerous objects is inaccurate, as it disregards the fact that toddlers can climb or maneuver to access higher or normally out-of-reach items. While it is true that toddlers may have better motor skills than infants, this increased ability can lead to more adventurous and risky behaviors. Lastly, although supervised environments can provide a layer of safety, it does not eliminate the inherent risks associated with toddler development and their exploratory nature.