Three- to five-year-old children experience loss, fear, and unfamiliar situations much differently than adults. Each preschooler develops at her own pace. If you understand how your preschooler thinks about her world, you'll be better able to help her deal with difficult events. Here are some things to look for as your child grows socially and emotionally.
Keep in mind that these behaviors may appear in all children at one time or another. If they are ongoing or frequent, however, they can be signs of stress.
Take advantage of everyday moments to find out what’s on your child’s mind; you can use your daily to routine to guide your child through challenging circumstances. Here are some ideas:
Family time. The physical and emotional closeness of eating a meal or playing a game together helps your preschooler feel safer. Use this time to ask questions such as, "What were the best and worst parts of your day?"
Chores. Letting him help with chores can make you both proud of his achievements. A new responsibility like sorting laundry can make him feel more confident. Take this opportunity to use socks as hand puppets to role play and ask questions such as, "What makes you happy or upset?"
Traveling. Whether you're traveling around the block or around the world, help your child recognize the accomplishments of people from different cultures or backgrounds. Talk about how people are different in some ways but the same in others. Try simple statements such as, "Everyone has feelings just like you."
Story time. While reading stories together, point out a character who handles a situation positively. Ask your child, "What would you have done?" For a story about how Elmo deals with a difficult situation, read You Can Ask.