How to Interact with a Preschooler

With seemingly boundless energy and a curious disposition, your preschooler can drive you to your wit's end. Whether it's endless questions or a constant plea to play, your preschooler is going through a period of major growth and development. Instead of getting flustered, work to nurture and respect your preschooler's curiosity, charming silliness and overall sense of fun.

Instructions

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      Interact with your preschooler on her level, suggests the HighScope Educational Research Foundation. It's important to play and laugh about things your preschooler understands. Looking for openings for pretend play, asking your child to play, and putting her in charge help foster her independence and sense of self-esteem while giving you time to connect.

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      Make reading part of your daily routine. By reading together, you help enhance early literacy skills and encourage imaginative play. After you're done reading a book, you can ask comprehension questions about the story or even act out a favorite scene to help provide positive experiences with literacy.

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      Ask your preschooler questions and look for sincere answers. Allowing your child to be the authority on a subject she enjoys can help build verbal skills and make for a great conversation topic to strengthen your bond, suggests the National Association for the Education of Young Children. If your child loves to watch you while you bake, ask her to describe her favorite recipe or tell you her methods when coloring in a coloring book.

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      Allow yourself to be silly. Preschoolers love when adults assume a more childlike role because it gives them a chance to flex their independence. You could be silly and try unlocking your car with a banana instead of keys, for example. Your preschooler will think it's funny that he's the one who has to correct you, creating a silly role reversal.

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      Set clear boundaries, expectations and consequences for your preschooler to follow. A 3- to 4-year-old is old enough to keep her hands to herself, speak respectfully and tell the truth. Let your preschooler know what you expect of her when it comes to interacting with others and doing chores and what will happen if she misbehaves, such as a timeout or loss of privileges.

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      Speak using positive language. When your preschooler hears "don't" all the time, it can become a diluted word. Instead, tell your preschooler what he can do, suggests the Children's Administration Office of Child Care Policy. Instead of "Don't play with your food," try "You can use a spoon." Instead of "Stop coloring on that," try "Here's some paper for you." This creates a positive message and helps your preschooler listen.

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