Positive Parenting Tips
Following are some of the things you, as a parent, can do to help your preschooler during this time:
Continue to read to your child. Nurture her love for books by taking her to the library or bookstore.
Let your child help with simple chores.
Encourage your child to play with other children. This helps him to learn the value of sharing and friendship.
Be clear and consistent when disciplining your child. Explain and show the behavior that you expect from her. Whenever you tell her no, follow up with what he should be doing instead.
Help your child develop good language skills by speaking to him in complete sentences and using “grown up” words. Help him to use the correct words and phrases.
Help your child through the steps to solve problems when he/she is upset.
Give your child a limited number of simple choices (for example, deciding what to wear, when to play, and what to eat for snack).
Social Development
Asks for help when needed.
Engages in cooperative play with small groups of children frequently.
Gives attention to stories for 10-20 minutes.
Says "please" and "thank you" without reminders.
Joins in mealtime conversations.
Initiates friendships with peers.
Plays interactive games.
Plays with peers with minimal conflict.
Interacts with adults in a cooperative, socially appropriate manner.
Asks permission to use items belonging to others.
Dresses and undresses self (coat, jacket, shirt)
Eats independently
Enters bathroom and urinates by self
Dresses and undresses self (coat, jacket, shirt)
Cooperates with other children and shares
Cognitive Development
Makes suns, animals, trees, flowers, etc.
Counts to 1-30
Works a 12-piece (or larger) puzzle.
Draws a person with at least 10 body parts
Counts 10r or more objects.
Identifies colors and shapes
Extends sentences logically.
Recalls parts of a story
Emotional Development
Developing a sense of humor.
Shows increasing levels of positive interactions and friendliness in small-group settings.
Responds to a specific need/desire when expressed by another child.
Verbalizes and is comfortable expressing a wider variety of emotions.
Openly and warmly expresses affection to other children.
Comforts other children.
Is able to return to equilibrium after experiencing stress.
Exhibits concern for fairness in what happens to others by sharing and/or taking turns.
Physical Development: Large/Gross Motor Skills
Balances on one foot for 5-10 seconds.
Jumps over a stationary rope held 6" above the ground.
Pedals a tricycle around obstacles and sharp corners.
Catches a ball in hands, arms flexed.
Hops around on one foot without support.
Walks backward.
Throws a ball with accuracy.
Physical Development: Small/Fine Motor Skills
Holds paper in place with one hand while writing with the other.
Cuts with scissors along a thick, straight line.
Draws recognizable pictures.
Draws or copies shapes.
Cuts with scissors following a simple outline.
Uses child-safe scissors
Communication and Language Development
Follows 2-3-step directions without distraction.
Describes items and/or objects in books.
Can answer questions about what has been read to them (Who is the story about? What is happening in the story? What is your favorite part of the story? etc.)
Speech is clear and can be understood by others.
Continue to read with your child to help nurture the love of reading.
Understands the concepts of "same" and "different"
Understands simple prepositions such as "on" and "under"
REMINDER
As with all milestones, remember that there can be a 6 to 8 month window with typical development. This means that children may exhibit skills 6 to 8 months before or after the age the skills are listed under.
Helpful Websites and Apps:
English and Spanish Resources
https://www.colorincolorado.org/help-your-child-learn-read
Reading:
Epic (app allows free use with parent account, has limited access to resources)
https://www.getepic.com/
Libby (access to online library with use of personal library card)
https://libbyapp.com/
ABCYa (free access)
https://www.abcya.com/grades/prek
Math:
Prodigy (typically for grades 1st-8th, free use with parent account)
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/
ABCYa (free access)
https://www.abcya.com/grades/prek
