Parenting Matters: The needs of preschoolers

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 7, 2018

It is important that parents understand what their young children need most in life to be ready for the next step.

The primary and most important need our children have is to have loving parents or caregivers who pay attention to the needs and cries of their young child. The next need they have is to feel safe. They need to move around, hear and make sound and play in safe places with safe toys. These needs are basic need for all children.

For toddlers

Toddlers have some special needs. They need opportunities to use and develop their muscles, to work with and play with their hands, to play with other children and to develop language skills.

Even as toddlers, they need to learn to do things for themselves and parents need to encourage them. This is an age when toddlers are building their vocabulary. That is why it is an important age, like most ages, when parents need to talk with their children.

It is also an exciting time to give your child a chance to make choices. You give your child a chance to pick what is right for her. You set the limit and she makes the choice. She learns about the consequences of her choices.

In these years from birth to 2 years of age, it is a wonderful time to increase his language skills. Talk to your child a lot. Show him pictures of the family, talk with him when you are feeding him, tell him what you see when you are driving down the street. Point out the birds or the school busses. Show him things, name them and then talk about them. Even when he is babbling, be excited because you are hearing him start to talk.

Be sure to sing songs and read nursery rhymes to him. Be sure to read books with him each day even if it is just for a short time. Let him hold the book or turn the pages or even lift the flap or touch and feel the special pictures. This help him with both motor and language development.

Needs change

By the time you have a child who is 3 to 5 years old, her needs are slightly changing. She still needs books and songs in her life. Now she also has a need to include science, math and art activities.

Check the local library and find books that are made especially for this age. Read together for at least a little time each day. This is an age to begin to teach her the alphabet and numbers. This is and should be a fun time for learning. Don’t become a task master at learning; instead become a partner.

Each time you show your young child something new, encourage him to speak by asking questions and talking about what is happening. Make sure you name new things and teach him about them. If you don’t know about the things you are introducing to him, show him how you find out about them. This is especially true when you are doing science. Learn together. Look things up or go to the computer. Let him see you measuring things even when you cook, and let him help.

You really are your child’s first teacher. There is so much for him or her to learn. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said, “As any mom can tell you, a surprising amount of progress is made in the first three years of life.” We all need to focus on this marvelous opportunity for our young children to learn. While you may be your child’s first teacher there are many others who can help with this task.

Talk with your caregiver and make sure she is participating actively in this learning opportunity your child has. Talk to grandma and grandpa and point out the importance they have in your child’s life. Be sure to talk with your partner about the importance you each have in developing the basis for a lifetime opportunity of learning.

You can even be the teacher for others in your child’s life and help them to see what important contribution they can make.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. To reach current First Teacher Executive Director Nicole Brewer, email nicole@firstteacher.org or call 360-681-2250.