Having a child is a joy that most parents feel is unparalleled. Throughout your time as a parent, you’ll tend to notice that there are different phases of raising a child. Many parents feel the need to seek out tips for raising a child as they near the age of a typical preschooler. During the preschool years, children often tend to show more personality. While these are often some of the most fun years for parents, they can still come with their own set of challenges. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed while raising a preschooler. With that in mind, here are four tips for raising a preschooler the right way.
- Avoid Over Scheduling Your Child
Many parents become so worried about their children developing that they don’t give them enough time to rest. Younger children need time for their brains to wind down after a long day of activities. While it might seem like scheduling plenty of activities for a child will have them ready for bed, the opposite tends to take place. In turn, this can create situations where a child actually begins to have difficulty sleeping. Ensuring a preschooler has plenty to do during the day is great. However, you might want to consider a few days where you and your child have a relatively light schedule. - Giving in to Negative Behavior
We’ve all heard the whining child that is complaining about one thing or another. Unfortunately, many parents feel pressured both at home and in public to simply give into to a whining child. While this method might seem the easiest, it isn’t the best long term option. Try ignoring the whining, many children will stop once they’ve realized this isn’t working. - Encourage Child to Engage in Free Play
Throughout the day in a preschooler’s life, they’re always being told what to do. It’s understandable that a preschooler needs plenty of structure and watching over in order to stay safe. That being said, you’ll want to set aside time each day to let your child engage in free play. This type of play is one in which children are able to enjoy activities that they’ve chosen. As long as the activity is safe, engaging in free play is extremely beneficial for a preschooler. - Enroll Your Child in a Private Preschool
Many parents find it’s beneficial to enroll their children receive a private school education from a young age. Statistics gathered from the 2016 Condition of Education report found that 4.1 million students were receiving a private school education during the 2013-14 school year. These schools are often far less crowded than public schools, with 87% having less than 300 total students. This helps to ensure that educators are able to place enough attention on each and every child in their classroom. In turn, receiving this type of education will naturally help ensure your child is ready to attend a private elementary school the following year.
In closing, there are several tips to follow while raising a preschooler. It’s important to make sure that your young one isn’t overbooked. Planning too many activities for your child can actually cause them to experience restlessness. Instead of rewarding whining to make it stop, consider ignoring it altogether. Many children will stop whining once they realize it isn’t being rewarded. You’ll also want to set aside time for your child to engage in play that they find enjoyable. Many parents find it’s important to ensure their children receive private school educations. Statistics show that anywhere between 60-80% of private school educators have obtained advanced degrees, helping to ensure your child receives the best education possible.
