Preschoolers need boundaries that guide their natural enthusiasm but that don’t dampen their passion for life. Boundaries androutines offer security. They protect preschoolers from getting overwhelmed by too much responsibility before they’re ready.
Preschoolers aretrying to understand the world around them, so we have to forgive them for being a bit distracted. A good rule is to always budget for another 30 minutes when doing things with your preschooler.
Preschool children are also still learning the everyday things that we take for granted, like how we talk to each other. For example, you might think your preschooler isn’t listening to you – but he might still be trying to figure out what someone said five minutes ago!
At this age, children can really benefit from going topreschool. This is where they can start learning about other people’s rules and how to get along with other children in a formal setting. Preschool gives your child the chance to play with other children and practicefriendship skills.
Some children settle into a preschool with no worries at all. Others take a while to warm up. Let your child take it slowly, but also be firm. It’s worth sticking with it and helping your child overcomefears about starting preschool.
If your child hastantrums, it might help to know that this behavior is still very common among children aged 18-36 months. Hang in there – tantrums tend to tail off after children turn four.
You might also still have someeating battles with your child. If so, a good rule to keep in mind is that, as the parent, you’re responsible for making healthy food available on a regular basis. Your child can be responsible for deciding how much of the food gets eaten.
Some fights are a fact of life when kids get together. A few factors affect fighting –temperament, environment, age and skills. You can work with these factors tohandle fighting in your family.
Lots of children havehabits. Your child’s habits might bother or frustrate you, but usually it’s nothing to worry about. Most habits go away by themselves. But if your child’s habit is interfering with everyday activities, has become embarrassing, or is even causing some harm, there are things you can do to help your child break the habit.
By: ARLENE G. ANGELES | T-I | MABATANG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
