- Continue to talk, sing and read to your child
- Nurture your child’s love for books by taking them to the library or a book store
- Teach responsibility in small steps, starting with simple things like picking up their toys
- Let your child help with simple chores
- Set a good example by consistently doing the things you want your child to do
- Encourage your child to play with other children, so they learn sharing and friendship
- Speak to your child in complete sentences, using “grown up” words. This will help develop language skills, using the correct words and phrases
- Help your preschooler work through the steps of solving a problem when they are upset
- Be clear and consistent when disciplining your child. Explain and show the behavior you want. When telling them no, explain what they should be doing instead
- Limit TV and computer time to just one to two hours a day. Children spending more than 2 hours a day in front of a screen are more likely to become obese and have behavior problems
- Monitor what your child is watching. Programs that show violent or angry actions and words can scare a preschooler and lead to nightmares or aggressive behavior
- Give your child a limited number of simple choices, like choosing what to wear, what games to play or what snack to eat
