Every Day the Same
Routines and consistency are very important when it comes to your child’s development and overall happiness. Your child will also begin to have expectations and pick up on cues when it comes to discipline, sleeping, and eating habits.
Your child has a hard time understanding why one day you read her a story before bed and another day you are too busy. Being consistent and reading a short bedtime story every night can help your child know that after the story she will be left in her room to sleep. That can be more comforting than just putting her in bed at a different time with a different routine every day.
Tattling occurs a lot at age three. In most cases, it is not because your child is trying to get another child in trouble. Children at this age tattle when they see another child doing something they were told not to do; they are testing you to see if the rule set earlier still stands.
In addition to handling tattling, try not to overreact when your child starts to tell stories or lies. Your child’s imagination is growing, so she may just be testing out a story to see your reaction. She may lie about something she did, such as denying she broke a toy. Your response can be “We can fix this together” or “I understand that you don’t feel good about breaking the toy.”
It is also important to be consistent with discipline.
Your discipline must be clear, consistent, and immediate so that your child makes the connection between her act and the disciplinary action you take. Disciplinary actions should also make sense whenever possible. If she took something without asking, limit her time with that thing. If she broke something on purpose, have her make amends to the owner. Also note if your child is hungry or tired as these two states of ten lead to misbehavior.
Sleeping
Three year olds should start becoming pretty consistent with their sleeping. Most three year olds still take a nap during the day and generally sleep a total of 11 to 12 hours a day overall.
Try not to overschedule your child with activities, and respect her naptime. Do not sign up your child for a soccer class that starts at the same time your child naps. She will be cranky and won’t enjoy being there because she is tired. Also, it is important to be active, but having too many activities going on every day can be exhausting. Make sure your child has some time every day to choose what she wants to do.
Talk to your doctor if your child is having trouble sleeping or wakes up constantly in the middle of the night. Nightmares are common at three years old because your preschooler’s imagination is very active.
Nightmares can be inescapable, but having a daily routine and consistent naptime can alleviate any extra stress or irritability when going to sleep, which can trigger nightmares.
If your child has a nightmare, it is important to comfort her and help your child fall back asleep, especially between the ages of two and six.
Your three year old is maturing more and more each day, and now is the time to help her get a good night’s sleep by doing the following:
1. Move your child to a big bed and out of the toddler bed. Give a lot of praise when she sleeps in it.
2. If your child gets up because she is not used to the bed, simply take her back to bed and firmly tell her that it’s time to go to sleep and leave the room.
3. Read a story, sing a song, and give a small glass of water. If you want to help her feel independent, allow one request of her choosing, but only one, and be firm.
Starting Preschool
When your child turns three it is important for you to start looking into preschool programs.
Whether a half-day or full-day program, three times a week or five, preschool helps your child get ready for kindergarten. Attending a high-quality program prepares your child for future academic success.
When you are choosing a preschool—an organization that promotes quality in early education— it is important to visit the school without your child the first time. Take the time to ask questions (see below). The next time take your child with you, see how he responds to the environment, and watch how the caregivers and teachers interact with him.
Children at this age learn by observing each other. Your child will catch on to the classroom routine by watching other children take directions from the teacher and follow along.
Going to preschool helps your child socialize with other children his own age, learn to share, take turns, and build relationships.
Things to look for in a preschool:
- How is the staff interacting with the children? Is the staff engaged and excited to be working with the children? Are the expectations for the children appropriate?
- What is the teacher’s experience with young children? What is the teacher’s background and how does the school train their teachers?
- What does the schedule look like? Is the whole day structured and planned out? How much free play is incorporated? Structured activities with the teacher are important. Your child’s teacher should spend time with each child during structured activities to help make connections and encourage the students to socialize with other children in the class. Free time should be incorporated into the schedule as well so that your child has the opportunity to explore her own interests.
- What is the school’s guidance and discipline policy? How do the caregivers handle stressful situations without losing their patience? It is important that you follow a similar guidance and discipline policy at home so that expectations are consistent for your child. It is also crucial to see if the teacher is consistent and fair with all the children in the class.
Getting ready for preschool:
* Allow him to get his outfit for preschool ready the night before so there are no anxious last-minute battles over clothing. If your child chooses a hideous outfit, rest assured that her teacher will know that it was not your choice but your child’s. Allow plenty of time to get ready each day.
* Schedule: Ask your preschool for the daily schedule ahead of time so you know what time you want to arrive and transition your child into the classroom.
* Adjust your child’s sleeping schedule gradually to accommodate when he will have to wake up for school.
* Talk to your child about what he will be doing at school. Drive or walk by the preschool and point it out to your child. Ask the school if you can come for a shadow day or orientation so that your child can meet his teacher and see the classroom.
* The chances are your child won't be ready for you to just drop him off and leave on the first day, so be prepared to hang around until he's settled.
* You’ll probably be feeling just as anxious and emotional as he is, but try to stay cheery and confident; children pick up on your feelings of apprehension.
* Explain to your child when you’ll be back. Don’t use fibs such as “Mommy’s just going to move the car” when you make your exit. Tell him you’ll be back after lunch time/ drink time or snack time/storytime. Leave your contact number with staff in case they need to call you.
* If your child cries and won’t let you leave, ask the staff for advice. In most cases in the first few days they’ll ask you to stay for a while with your child.
* When you’ve said your goodbyes, try not to worry. If there is a problem, you’ll be contacted, but in most cases your child will be enjoying his exciting new experience.
* Remember that every child is different. Some children transition into preschool quickly, and others take more time.
Going to preschool is a time of great transition for your child. Preparing together as a family will make him more confident when the time comes.
Safety
Your child is getting bigger and moving easily on her own. She is riding a tricycle, running, jumping, and climbing with ease.
Most injuries are preventable; they happen because parents are unaware of what their children can do. Because your child is learning so much, she is at risk for injuries from falls, burns, and even water. Your child does not remember “no” when she is exploring or playing. Stay aware of where she is and what she is doing.
Some simple guidelines for keeping your fast-moving child safe are listed here.
Electrical outlets: Cover all electrical outlets in your home. Your three year old has a good grasp on spatial orientation and will start experimenting by sticking different objects in holes and openings to see if they fit.
Chemicals: Keep chemicals and cleaning solutions out of reach.
Gates: If you are let ting your child explore your backyard on her own, make sure you lock any gates, especially those around pools or other unsafe areas.
Helmet: When your child is ready to learn to ride a bike or scooter or try skates, buy her a helmet. Make sure you have one with a proper f it and one that is not too loose or too snug on the head.
Traffic and street safety: Do not have your child play near streets, and talk to your child about not chasing any balls or toys that go into the street. Teach your child his or her name, address, and telephone number (with area code).
Car seats: At this age your child still needs a car seat. Between two and three years old is a good time to change to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. It is important to follow the recommended weight and height requirements for each car seat.
Playground equipment: Before let ting your child explore the playground, take a walk around the park and check the equipment to make sure it is sturdy. Keep her in sight so you can monitor how high she climbs.
Strangers: This age is an important time to start talking about strangers. Talk to your child about what to do if someone she doesn’t know approaches her. Let her know that if a stranger approaches her, she should run away yelling, immediately tell you or her caregiver, and not take anything that a stranger gives her.
