Parenting
Pre-schoolers: A Positive Practical Parenting Seminar
Questions from Dapto,
NSW, Mums
How do I night toilet
train a 4.5 year old?
Check out my website
for a long answer to this question J.
How do I encourage
self-play that is not with an electronic device?
This is so important. If they are small, you can start with
one or two playpen times each day. Just have a few toys in there so not to
overwhelm them with over-choice.
If they are toddlers or older, start them in room play for a
small section of each day. Choose the same time each day (I chose straight
after breakfast) and choose one bucket of toys (e.g. blocks or cars or animals)
for them to play with. Explain that they can play right here until the music
sounds. Keep the time short at first and gradually increase it.
Have outside play each day. This is important for developing
gross-motor skills
Have table time each day for colouring, pasting and cutting.
This is important for developing fine-motor skills.
Have a set time each day for electronic device play with a
set start and end time. Not just before bed!
What should I do if
my 3 year old just sits and will not eat dinner?
I would give them their milk and move on with the evening. If
this is a pattern, then observe their eating pattern for the day. Ensure that snacks
and juice are limited so they have a good appetite by dinner time. If it
happens only occasionally, then don’t be too concerned. The appetites of the
under 5’s can vary greatly due to growth spurts, teething and illness.
What do you do if
your child is still fussing a few minutes after you have isolated them?
Just leave them.
They are not in pain or in danger or in need.
They are simply expressing their displeasure at your
decision.
When they are calm, you can pick them up, give them a big
cuddle and continue on with your day.
How do you get two
parents on the same page?
This is so important. It is very rare to have both parents
with exactly the same ideas on parenting. There needs to be lots of discussion.
When an issue arises, it is okay to take a few minutes to work out how to
respond. You will both have to compromise a little and come up with ‘our’ way
of parenting rather than ‘’my’ or ‘yours’. No one response will make or break
your child, so even if you later think you were too hard or too soft in one
situation, it is totally okay to adjust for the next time.
How do you leave your
child in crèche if they are unhappy?
It is best to leave quickly. Prolonging the goodbye usually
escalates the situation.
If possible, hand your child to the same carer each time.
That will help create familiarity and security for your child.
Say the same thing each time. I would say, “Have a happy
time, I will be back soon.” This again creates familiarity and security and is
the verbal cue for your departure.
Let the carer know that you are happy to be called back if
your child hasn’t settled in 10 – 15 minutes. This time frame gives them a
chance to hopefully become interested in a toy or activity that will distract
them from your absence.
It can also be helpful to practice leaving and returning in
other situations during the week. This helps your child learn that mummy always
comes back.
