Preschool development
Written by: Denise Morgan
It is the mantra often uttered by parents and health professionals all over the globe that children develop at different rates, but it is useful to know the milestones your child should have reached by a certain age. This is especially true with preschool development as it is beneficial to address any potential learning difficulties or other problems they may have so that the appropriate support can be sought before they begin school. It is also a relief to many parents to know what skills their child should really have rather than relying on information given by overly competitive (and, more often than not, exaggerating) parents.
Social Skills
Between the ages of 3 and 4, your child will begin to show empathy with other children and adults allowing you to explain why certain behaviour is not appropriate, such as hitting another child. This is also useful when you wish to encourage children to share.
Although at this stage children are beginning to find ways to soothe themselves, they are still dependent on adult reassurances.
It’s All Go
Your child’s movements will be becoming more precise and they will be able to grasp crayons and pencils with their fingers rather than in their fists. You will notice that your child is becoming insistently independent and will attempt to dress and undress themselves, perhaps even choosing which clothes they would prefer to wear. Coordination has noticeably improved and pre-schoolers may now be able to catch a ball using both hands.
Look Who’s Talking
Your child’s language will be continuously improving and you will be able to understand requests and demands from your talkative pre-schooler. It is estimated that children between the ages of 3 and 4 can understand approximately 1000 words and will happily converse about what they have been doing.
As the time for your child to begin school approaches, they will become more inquisitive about the world around them and will ask numerous questions about their observations.
Body Matters
Pre-schoolers are inclined to notice their bodies and they may begin to explore themselves and the bodies of other children through the form of play. This is all part of the growing process and is a normal stage of development for pre-schoolers.
Discipline
As your child will be introduced to the routines of the school day and will be expected to share their social and academic space with many other children, it would be wise to ensure you prepare them accordingly. The majority of children at 4 and 5 years of age understand the basics of right and wrong and respond well to appropriate discipline. As they will have developed empathy by this stage, you can explain to them how their actions may affect others. Timeout is a great way to discipline your child as they know the punishment will end in a certain amount of time and they will also have the opportunity to reflect upon their actions.
If you are worried about any areas of your child’s development, contact your GP and be assured that many parents experience concerns regarding the growth and development of their child.
For more information raisingchildren.net
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