Children Love to Learn
- Open and honest communication will create a lifelong closeness with your child.
- Routines and responsibilities will let your child know what to expect. When a rule is broken, a natural consequence needs to follow.
- As you teach your child how to be independent, you also need to teach how to be safe.
- Learning how to be a good friend is an important skill you can teach your child.
- Your little one is starting to explore the world outside your home. This is exciting, but can be scary!
Children from 4 to 6 years old are:
- Beginning to develop their independence and form real friendships.
- Learning rules to more difficult games.
- Developing important life skills.
Set Limits
When children do something against the rules, explain simply and in a few words:
- That what they did was wrong
- What will happen if the behavior continues Consequences need to be logical, meaningful, and simple. For example:
- If your child rides a bike without a helmet, the bike is off limits for a day or two.
- When your child won’t share a toy, that toy can’t be used for the rest of the day.
Create and Keep Routines
Teach about rules by setting up daily routines.
Children do best when they know what to expect.
In the morning:
Use the bathroom
Get dressed
Have breakfast
At bedtime:
Take a bath
Brush teeth
Read a story
Schedule specific times for TV, video games, and use of the computer. When you know what your child is watching, you can avoid violence and other unacceptable content. Limit “total screen time” to no more than 2 hours a day.
Read at bedtime. This helps your child:
Settle down after a busy day
Learn how to read
Have meals together as much as possible.
This is a great way to spend time together and share family traditions, while also teaching good eating habits and table manners.
Last Updated 11/2/2009
Source Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure (Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
