Parenting Tips for Your 45-46 Month Old Child
Children still learn by watching adults. This can be a problem when it comes to safety. Your child will watch you use power tools and want to do the same thing. Your child will watch you plug in electric cords, use matches to start a fire and take medicine. Your child will want to imitate you, but will not understand the dangers.
A preschooler’s curiosity will lead her to the medicine cabinet to look at the little bottles and colored pills. She will climb on a stool and stand on the kitchen counter to get the matches off a top shelf. This is just being curious, not “bad.”
What can a parent do to avoid accidents? Here are some ideas:
- Store dangerous materials in cabinets, which are out of reach and have locks.
- Explain to your child why she should not touch some things. “These matches are only for me to use. They might hurt you.” “We don’t play with sharp knives. They could cut you.”
- Teach safety rules. “You can help me vacuum, but I will plug it in.”
- Show your child that you follow safety rules too. Be a good example. Put covers back on cleaning products and put them away after each use. Fasten your safety belt every time you get in the car. Unplug electric cords with fingers on the plug; do not yank the cord from two feet away.
- Check on your child’s activities often. Be sure you know where she is at all times
Learn more about Your Child: 45-46 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
