My Very Active 13 Month Old.

Oh my goodness, yes. My younger daughter slept like a little angel until about 6 months, at which point she woke up, we realized she had brown eyes, and she started buzzing around like a tiny Tazmanian devil. She has never stopped since and she is now almost 6! We started calling her "the busy bee" because she would buzz from thing to thing, climbing, jumping, rolling, you name it, she was on the MOVE! At 13 months, she climbed one of the bar stools, climbed up on top of the island/bar in the kitchen, and just as I walked into the room, she leaped from the bar top to the back of the couch, which was about 5 feet away. I almost had a heart attack! Another of her favorite tricks was to disable the baby-proof locks on the lower bathroom cabinets, then pull herself up so she had her feet on the tops of the cabinet doors, and then would stand there making them wobble back and forth, giggling at herself in the mirror. It is honestly a miracle that this child has lived this long, AND has never been to the emergency room!

I will tell you, though, that she was a truly terrible, terrible 2! She gave me a run for my money and then some - I believe because she's super smart and her language skills didn't develop as fast as her fine and gross motor skills. She was just super frustrated!

All that said, she did skip Pre-K and went straight to Kinder. Now she is graduating from 1st Grade at the top of her class, and at not quite 6 years old is reading chapter books, can add multiple numbers in her head, etc.

Just keep your little girl as busy as you can. Give her lots of toys that allow her to use her imagination, such as big legos, wooden blocks, heck, almost anything you have around the house will do as well as any expensive toy. Have her help you in the kitchen (give her real tasks to do, like tearing up lettuce leaves, stirring things, etc, as she gets older and more coordinated). Talk to her like she's a grown-up. Make your house as safe as you can for her so she can explore freely. I wouldn't bother with classes, because they will be full of other children who are not as advanced and the activities will be aimed at the lowest common denominator. My daughter was bored silly at Gymboree. Just let her get lots of physical play at home, at the park, etc.

Good luck! It will be a wild ride for a few years. ;)

Yes, I've had two of them. One mellowed about age 7 the other is still going strong at age 11. They are both intelligent and confident. I suggest you become familiar with Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's books on parenting, especially her books on "Raising the Spirited Child." She offers a lot of great insight into the minds and motivation of these children. Like the other posters, daily physical activity is a must. I tried to get them doing things to address sensory issues--sit and spin, swings, jumping, etc. Hopping balls. My boys really liked puzzles and the Thomas the Tank engine and Brio wooden trains. We took early childhood classes and classes at the YMCA, zoo and local science museum. I was amused by the poster who got rid of the coffee table and replaced it with padded cubes. We didn't have any coffee tables from about the oldest age one to the youngest age 7. They were just launching pads!

That's how my youngest is...just turned one yesterday, and is ALWAYS a handful. It took some getting used to after my first child was SO mellow and laid back...but what a blessing, to see each of them with such an individual personality.

The one, most important thing I've learned...I can't turn my back on her, even for a second. With my first, I knew she was sitting on the floor playing. I swear, I turned my back for like, TWO seconds the other day (still in the same room) and my baby was up in the arm chair, leaning over to grab my coffee mug (empty, thank God!) off the table that I THOUGHT I had blocked her from with furniture. Hah. In the church nursery they have to put the kiddie rocking chair in a crib, otherwise she stands on it, holds onto the back, and rocks it like crazy.

As far as occupying toys...it's weird, but she likes books (just like the mellow one did) but also LOVES to empty and fill things...so I'm always giving her new containers, new pieces, new boxes, etc. Also, outdoor play is a must, every day that we can.

Yes, I have two. My son is much busier physcially than my daughter was, but they were both busy. My son is a handful as well! I don't honestly think there are any fool proof toys. I think just keep them busy and exposed and they will continue to grow. We go to a music class every week and both my kids (3.5/1.5) both really love it. I have seen my son really grasp the routine and actions over the last few months and that's exciting. Explore the world and they will continue to learn!

My oldest was the same way. They do have some tumbling classes through recreation centers that might be a good option. We take pillows off the couch a lot and let him jump. The best investment we made when we hade him was getting rid of our coffee table and buying leather cubes instead. he jumps off those onto the couch but they have been much safer. Other ideas...Creative Kidstuff has a musical "Super Skipper" we just got, one of those balls they can jump on with the handle, for the summer a "Slip N Slide" I find I need more active things for him, he will sit and play every now and then but usually likes running, hide and seek and being chased.