Parenting Tips for Your 41-42 Month Old Child
- Arrange things so it is easy to do the right thing. Provide play materials, such as crayons, dress-up clothes, toy cars, play dough so your child has something to do. Add a booster seat to the dining room chair to help your child reach his glass of milk without spilling it. Remove breakable items from your child’s reach to prevent accidents.
- Give positive choices. “You can either ride your tricycle outside or stay inside and paint. What do you want to do?”
- Keep a routine. Children feel secure by knowing the sequence of daily events and can get upset when their daily routine suddenly changes.
- Tell your child about changes. If you cancel a daily trip to Grandma’s house, explain why. Ask your child to suggest other days for the trip, and let him call Grandma to set up a new date.
- Break big tasks into small steps. Help your child clean his room one step at a time:
- Put the three books back on the shelf.
- Put the toys in this bucket.
- Put your clothes on these two hooks.
- Focus on the dos, not the don’ts. Children who are told what not to do, such as “Don’t throw your clothes on the bedroom floor” have a hard time learning what they should be doing. Tell children clearly what to do, “Hang up your clothes on the hooks in your closet.”
Learn more about Your Child: 41-42 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
