Page 34 - Waterfall City Issue 5 May 2024

Waterfall City Today’s Child

acquire the capacity to express, children. want to play with them. Maybe that
experience, understand, and manage • May have a particular friend. friend is shy, sad, or not feeling well.
emotions while building relationships. • They will begin to share more and • Be gentle, calm, and consistent in
Our children gradually learn to express cooperate with peers. how you parent them through this
and manage their own emotions while • Jointly manipulates objects with one phase in the context of the social
learning to respond appropriately to or two other peers. and emotional learning they are
those of others. experiencing.
What happens when a child • Encourage them to name their
What to expect at this age? lacks social-emotional feelings through words or pictures.
From an emotional perspective, the development? • Remind them that all feelings are OK if
following development will include: It is essential to be aware that social‐ they are expressed safely.
• Understands when someone is hurt emotional development delays and • Use books, songs, games, stories, and
and may want to comfort them. behavioural problems at preschool play to discuss many feelings.
• May show a stronger preference for age are associated with an increased • Focus on teaching them problem-
same-sex playmates. risk for adverse outcomes at school solving skills. These can be applied
• May enforce gender-role norms with age. This can include ongoing to relationships, situations, and their
peers. behaviour problems, poorer academic own feelings.
• Attain gender stability (sure she/he is achievement, and even psychiatric
a girl/boy). disorders. There are five elements to
• May have bouts of aggression with this developmental process,
peers. How can you help them namely:
• Likes to give and receive affection develop these skills? • Self-awareness – as mentioned
from parents. • A great way to help preschoolers above, they are aware of their
• May praise themselves and be understand others is to read books gender, features, etc. They are
boastful. where the characters experience increasingly independent, reliant on
emotion. Discuss how your child others, and less so on parents in a
From an emotional would feel in the same situation. social setting.
perspective: • Encourage them to talk about their • Self-management – this is when
• Developing independence and social feelings – why they are sad, angry, or they learn to control their emotions
skills they use for learning and getting happy. and behaviour in a range of situations,
on with others at preschool and, later, • Help your child make connections especially when things don’t go the
school. with others. Try to help them by way they want them to or when they
• They will enjoy playing with other explaining why a friend might not want them to.
• Social awareness – understanding
how they fit into the world. They
start developing values and attitudes
toward others and respect for others
and their possessions.
• Relationship skills – they start to
develop the ability to self-regulate,
to show empathy and to understand
other’s perspectives.
• Responsible decision-making – and
problem-solving skills.

Every age has unique challenges;
parenting means adapting, supporting,
nurturing, guiding, and being present
with your children.

We always remind parents that their
children mirror what they see, so show
empathy towards others, be mindful
of how you interact with others, talk
about your emotions, and share your
treats with them – they will learn from
you!

32 Waterfall City Issue 5 2024