The Preschooler and Family : Anticipatory guidance

The Preschooler and Family :

  • Anticipatory guidance
    • 3 Years of Age
      • Prepare parents for child’s increasing interest in widening relationships.
      • Encourage enrollment in preschool.
      • Emphasize importance of setting limits.
      • Prepare parents to expect exaggerated tension-reduction behaviors such as need for a “security blanket.”
      • Encourage parents to offer child choices.
      • Prepare parents to expect marked changes at 3.5 years when child becomes insecure and exhibits emotional extremes.
      • Prepare parents for normal dysfluency in speech and advise them to avoid focusing on the pattern.
      • Prepare parents to expect extra demands on their attention as a reflection of child’s emotional insecurity and fear of loss of love.
      • Warn parents that the equilibrium of a 3-year-old will change to the aggressive, out-of-bounds behavior of a 4-year-old.
      • Inform parents to anticipate a more stable appetite with more food selections.
      • Stress needs for protection and education of child to prevent injury
    • 4 Years of Age
      • Prepare parents for more aggressive behavior, including motor activity and offensive language.
      • Prepare parents to expect resistance to parental authority.
      • Explore parental feelings regarding child’s behavior.
      • Suggest some type of respite for primary caregivers, such as placing child in preschool for part of the day.
      • Prepare parents for child’s increasing sexual curiosity.
      • Emphasize importance of realistic limit setting on behavior and appropriate disciplinary techniques.
      • Prepare parents for the highly imaginative 4-year-old who indulges in “tall tales” (to be differentiated from lies) and develops imaginary playmates.
      • Prepare parents to expect nightmares or an increase in them.
      • Provide reassurance that period of calmness begins at 5 years of age.
    • 5 Years of Age
      • Inform parents to expect tranquil period at 5 years of age.
      • Help parents prepare children for entrance into school environment.
      • Make certain that childhood immunizations are up to date before child enters school.
      • Suggest that unemployed parental caregivers consider own activities when children begin school.