Parenting For Three Year Old

Five teachers with a combined 90 decades of experience share tips for parents of two - to 5-year-olds. Getting the Best from Your Child I fear that my 3-year-old, Sophie, has a split personality. At college she cleans her toys up, lays her sneakers, and is entirely self indulgent at potty time. At home, she yells whenever I ask her to pick up anything, insists I join in the restroom whenever she must go, and lately has started demanding that I spoon-feed her dinner. Certainly, her teacher understands something I don't. But , what parent hasn't sometimes wondered: Why is my child better for everyone else than for me personally? The easy answer: Your child tests her limits with you since she trusts you will love her no matter what. But that doesn't mean that you can't borrow a few plans from the preschool instructors ' playbook to get the best from your child. We asked teachers from all over the nation for their hints so listen up -- and take notes! .

Encourage teamwork.

If your child is fighting over a toy with another child, set a timer for 5 minutes, indicates Buss. Inform 1 kid he can have the toy till he hears the buzzer, then it is going to be the other child's turn.

Prioritize play.

Preschool teachers said over and over that kids now are unable to perform imaginatively than children of a decade or two ago. A lot of their day is structured in supervised activities, says Haines. The antidote: Obtain comfortable stating Go play. It's 's not your job to see that your child is entertained 24/7. Let her get a little exhausted. But be sure she has items like dress-up clothing, paint and paper, a huge cardboard box, and play dough.

Avoid good-bye meltdowns

If your child is worried about spending some time apart, give him something concrete to remind him of you. Let him take your image; kiss a tissue or cut out a paper core and place it in his pocket. Having something physical to touch can help him feel less anxious -- and short-circuit a tantrum.

Warn of alterations

If your child pitches a fit whenever you announce it's time to switch gears --whether that means shutting off the TV, stopping play to come eat, or departing a friend's house -- it might be that you simply 're not devoting enough advance notice. At school we let children know when alterations are coming so that they have the time to finish whatever they're performing, observes Cohen-Dorfman. In case you have to leave the house at 8:30 a.m., warn your child at 8:15 she's five more minutes to play, then will have to stop to put her toys away. Set a timer so she knows if the time is up.