Parenting Tips for Your 47-48 Month Old Child
The idea of a playmate to share toys and laughter, excitement and special times, is the bright side of friends and friendships. The downside is the arguing and hurt feelings, the tears and the jealousy. Parents of preschoolers might ask, “Why bother?”
When children play with other children their own age, they have great opportunities for learning fairness, sharing, taking turns, following the rules, negotiating, compromising and cooperating. They learn other children also want the biggest piece and the first turn. They learn other children feel badly when they have to wait or when someone pinches them. Children who only play with adults or older children don’t get the chance to work out problems with equals.
Children whose peers reject them or who have no friends are at risk for problems later on like:
- dropping out of school
- getting lower grades
- having a harder time adjusting to school
- having a negative outlook about school
Be prepared to hear children barter for friends: “If you do this for me, I’ll be your friend.” Some children seem unkind when they say, “I don’t want to be your friend.” Translated this means, “I want to play alone right now.” While another 4-year-old would not take this comment personally, parents find it rude and unacceptable. If this type of statement makes you uncomfortable, help your child restate what he has said without making an issue of it. Suggest he say, “I would like to play alone right now.”
