schooldays

Children have a desire and a need to make choices and solve problems in their environment. As adults, we must recognize the importance of giving them control, and providing small challenges for them to overcome.

Preschoolers are at an age where they want to do so many things. They are ready to apply many of the skills they will need to succeed in school. Here are some practical, simple ways to help children develop potential for success:

Give children simple jobs when they are toddlers

  *  Even toddlers can be taught to carry their cups and bowls to and from the table, put clothes in a hamper, pick up and put away toys, and take unbreakable grocery items out of bags. You’ll often find that children thrive with this kind of responsibility

Add complexity as they get older

* Great chores for preschoolers include all the above in addition to: helping put clothes into the proper place,  picking out clothes to wear, brushing their teeth, washing during bath time, and holding the hands of younger siblings and friends on errands.

*  Allow the child to choose some jobs he or she would like and modify the jobs as needed.

Watch children and use their special interests and strengths to their (and your) advantage. 

*   A child who loves to “run errands” is an excellent candidate for helping to go get items from another room, help back a backpack for a trip, or go put an item away in another part of the house. 

*   If a child loves to climb, allow as safe experiences to do this with supervision: going up and down stairs, pulling themselves up and out of a swimming pool, climbing on playground equipment. There will be some bumps and bruises, but these are a part of life! Do make sure children are properly supervised on appropriate equipment and that an adult is close by to help.

Encouraging independence is an important social skill for children. Helping children develop such skills is an integral part of growing up and is often just as important as educational knowledge.

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