friends, and more friends! This is the main focus of your children at these ages. Parents become minimized and everything revolves around their friends. If your child does not have any friends, do everything you can to expose him to kids his age. Depending on their personalities, girls may prefer boys and boys may prefer girls. This is OK! Start your own playgroup by hanging up flyers. Look up Gymboree in your phone book to see if it's offered in your area. Sign your child up for Montessori education. He or she can meet some good friends there while learning how to learn. Take your child to your local playground. This is a good place to let loose and meet new kids. Mom and Dad might even meet some nice folks!
Children need to feel needed, competent, and challenged.
Make up a daily list of chores, maybe 4 or so, and place them on the refrigerator. Be consistent about checking them off. If you forget to do this every so often, then your child will feel that it is not very important to do these chores. You might have him make his bed every morning. Make sure you teach him how to do each chore first before requiring him to perform it. Do Not be picky about how he does the chore! You will defeat the whole purpose of doing chores if you criticize his work. Make him feel proud of himself! "I like how you pulled the comforter all the way up to the top of the bed, Jimmy!" Another chore might be to set the table for breakfast. Again, do not be picky.
Begin letting your children read to you.
If they have trouble with words simply help them along by giving them the correct pronunciation. Try not to correct them too much. They will eventually pronounce it the correct way. Give them a page of homework to do everyday. You can find age appropriate lessons at your local school supply store. This will prepare them for the real world of school coming up in the near future.
Have on hand for your child plenty of arts and crafts.
This is a very creative time. Finger paints, crayons, markers, different types of paper, beads, strings, model airplanes, and glue and scissors. This is a great time to teach her how to use the computer. Buy a few age appropriate computer programs and watch her amazement. Try to stay away from violent toys at this age. It will be soon enough when you won't have a choice in the matter. Kids are attracted to violent toys because it gives them a feeling of power. This is normal. So don't frett too much over it.
Expose
your children to a wide array of stimulating experiences. Take him to museums and let him explore. When you go on vacation, try to experience the local flavors in the area. Let him communicate with the locals and learn their customs. Take her to musicals and plays, age appropriate of course. Take her to the symphony. Enroll the kids in a youth choir. Begin piano lessons, or other musical instruments. Commit him for a certain period of time, like a year for instance. If he decides he doesn't like it then he can quit. Sign her up for Karate. Commit her for a mutually agreeable amount of time and stick to it. Kids love to experiment with different sports and hobbies. Allow them to experience as many of them as they choose--within reason. Never force a child into something they show no interest in. I would have loved my daughter to love softball. But she doesn't and thats OK.
This is a wonderful time for both children and parents. You can really nurture your childs unique, individual personality thats taking form. If you go with the flow you'll enjoy the moments!
