Parenting Tips for Your 45-46 Month Old Child
When parents set aside a few minutes for activity with their children, it can be fun for all. What exactly do parents who raise the brightest preschoolers do? Parents who are good teachers do the following:
- They let the child do it. They give the child more time to work at her own pace. They do not jump in to show the child the correct solution. They help the child, but only when the child really needs it.
- They give general problem-solving advice. They say things like, “Find the piece that fits in the corner,” or, “Try another one,” rather than, “This one goes there.” They give their child a hint or a method rather than a solution. The child is the one who solves the puzzle.
- They give tasks their child can do. Some tasks are too big for a child. Break a big task into smaller parts that the child can handle. For example, instead of just telling a child to clean her room, a parent could add that the first step is to pick up all the clothes, and then the next step is to pick up the toys.
- They give advice in the form of questions. They say, “Which piece is long like this?” rather than, “This one is next.” Questions challenge the child to think, and they teach the child what questions to ask herself in problem solving.
- They tell the child what she is doing right, rather than wrong. They “catch their child being good.”
- They extend their child’s language. If the child picked up a puzzle piece and said “blue,” they might expand on the child’s language by saying, “Yes, it’s light blue and shaped like a banana.” They also ask questions. “What kind of blue is it?” “Look at its shape. What does it remind you of?”
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.
