7 qualities you need to be a great parent to a preschooler
Parenting.com
What's it really take to parent a preschooler? It's pretty simple, once you realize what kids this age can and can't do (and what sets them off and what keeps them happy!). Here are seven qualities that make it much easier to manage all that, and why they're so crucial when you've got an independent-minded, boundary-testing picky eater on your hands.
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Preschoolers place great importance on authority figures: teachers, doctors, parents.
We've all heard about the terrible twos. But nobody talks about the tantrum-throwing threes or the ferocious fours. So lots of parents are surprised when their preschooler hurls himself on the floor, screaming, after not getting a coloring book at the supermarket.
Preschoolers, like toddlers, can fall apart when they're tired, hungry, or overwhelmed. We assume that because they have stronger language and reasoning skills, they'll have better control over themselves. But sometimes, they have a harder time settling down (bedtime, for example) because they think they're missing out... on something. Fortunately, kids this age place great importance on figures of authority: teachers, doctors, and you. Use this to your advantage to set clear, firm rules, says Errika Lynch, a preschool teacher and mom of two in Groton, Massachusetts. Like any tough leader, you can't get too mired down in details. That means no negotiation over bedtime. Being steadfast and concise is key, so they know what's expected.
Forethought
When he's 2 or so, your formerly voracious eater may become so picky you'll worry he's malnourished (who can live off PB&J alone?). Experts say you're dealing with a power struggle and a plea for independence, both playing out at the dinner table. Suddenly, kids realize they can exert total, maddening control by refusing to eat what's in front of them. So you need to think ahead in the kitchen - but that doesn't mean making multiple meals or giving in to their demands. It does mean having a few good choices for everyone, and leaving it at that. "Children will not willingly starve themselves," says Nori Hudson, a nutrition consultant based in Berkeley, California. Parenting.com: How to be a great mom to a toddler
If your child's not getting the entire nutritional food pyramid every day, don't worry. He'll probably have all his nutritional needs met over the course of a week. So watch what he eats and plan accordingly: If he goes for peas one day, offer him cheese or yogurt the next. Another tactic is to get your preschooler involved before dinnertime. Ask him to help you mix the mac and cheese so he feels like he's in control. Or at the market, let him pick out a fruit that he finds interesting-looking. "It's never too early to let kids experience a variety of textures, tastes, and colors," says Hudson. "Eventually they'll grow out of the pickiness."
A sense of fantasy
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Actors have nothing on preschoolers -- or their moms. On any given day, your child will be a baby elephant, a monster alien, or a fairy ballerina. And you get to play along. "Imagination is critical for their development," says Claire Lerner, director of parenting resources at Zero to Three, a Washington, D.C.--based children's advocacy group. Preschoolers stretch their language skills as they describe complex story plots for you to follow. They hone their logic ("This happened, so this happened, and then this...") and develop social skills playing imaginatively with their peers -- describing how to build the fort, for example, and cooperating to make it happen. "Your role is to become a facilitator," says Lerner. "Be careful not to take over their story. The more they do, the better." Offer her ideas, like "Oh, no, there's an alligator! What are we going to do now?" Playing dress-up? Encourage her to make props out of ordinary stuff around the house (a bowl can make a very nice crown). Just remember you're the supporting actor in this play. Let her direct for now. Parenting.com: Nurturing creativity
Stoicism
One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to let your child walk alone into the scary world of jungle gyms and new people. But preschool beckons, even for just a few hours a day. "I've hugged more crying parents than I have children on the first day of school," says Allyssa Lamb, a veteran preschool teacher in Berkeley. To quell your queasiness, make sure you feel good about the person you're leaving your child with, and focus on what your child will gain from school. It gives her rules for every task, which kids this age thrive on. It makes her feel proud and independent that she can eat her own snack and throw away her own garbage.
It enables her to be away from you for a while, trust her own decisions, and, hey, have some fun. Preschool can also accomplish a lot of the stuff you're still working on, like ridding your child of her pacifier or lovey. "I couldn't get my daughter to stop using her Binky, put her shoes on by herself, or sleep by herself," says Tressy Pelonis, a mom of 2 ½-year-old Allison, in Long Beach, California. "Since she started preschool, she's like a different kid!" If your child has a hard time adjusting to her new routine, comfort her but don't indulge her fears by letting her stay home or lingering at dropoff. Keep a stiff upper lip and remind her that she's a big kid. Remember, you can cry on your spouse's shoulder when she's not around.
Nonchalance
Preschoolers know the power of words. From repeating "poop" in between uncontrollable fits of laughter to uttering the most chilling words in the English language -- "I hate you" -- your 3-year-old is beginning to understand that certain language elicits dramatic reactions. That's why it's important not to overreact to potty humor or take hurtful proclamations personally. "It's another form of testing, to see how far they can go," says Lynch. Now that kids have moved on from diapers and think about potty issues more, they sense that these topics are taboo. And taboo = hysterical. The best way to deal? Act like an English monarch, with a blasé, "I am not amused" face. The more you react -- positively or negatively -- the more you reinforce the behavior. Explain that while he can engage in a little bit of toilet humor at home, it's not OK at preschool, a friend's house, or anywhere else in public. Or divert him with a nice clean joke ("What did five say to six? Seven ate nine!").
When it comes to mean words, use the same approach. Kristy Hill's 3-year-old told her to leave the room because he didn't like her. The Keller, Texas, mom says it was hard not to feel upset, but she managed to keep calm and said, "Oh, that's sad because I love you very much." Overreacting will only let your child know that this is a good way to get your attention. As with potty humor, nonchalance is key -- but you do need to make it clear (later, when he's calmer) that language intended only to hurt people is never OK. Parenting.com: How to be a great mom to a baby
Dexterity
During preschool, kids' motor skills and hand-eye coordination really take off: Witness the one-foot hop and the buttoning of shirts. Your child learns by trying these things out - repeatedly - and it helps immeasurably to be able to see someone as skilled as yourself doing them, too. So crack your knuckles, stretch your calves, and get ready to hop, button, and more.
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A slightly less tiring way to help your child's development is with crafts. Playing with clay or stringing beads is a great way to build up the small muscles in his hands and hone his hand-eye coordination. You can also ask him to do housework with you. He can stir cake mix, plant flowers, or sort laundry by color -- he'll be improving his coordination and having fun. When my son Jack was 3, I gave him a little squirt bottle filled with water and he would "clean" stuff around the house. "This age group lives to help, because they get attention and the praise makes them feel good," says Lynch. "They feel like they've accomplished something, like they're grown-ups."
Empathy
It's not all about rules and schedules with preschoolers. As much as your child thrives on knowing what to expect, she's also just a little kid. It's hard growing up: There's potty training, a big-kid bed, maybe a new sibling. You try three (or more!) major life changes in one year. That's why it's important to show your child you feel her pain, too. It could mean a hug and a new do when she flips over her hair being braided "all wrong." Or it might mean just understanding that it's tiring to spend a long day at preschool, remembering the rules, getting along with other kids, and generally keeping herself together. Help her decompress with a snack and a chat, and don't rush into chores or errands. Your empathy will not only keep the both of you calmer, it's also a quality well worth modeling. And if you'd be proud to see your child mimic the things you do, then you can definitely call yourself a great mom.
source from www.cnn.com
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