5 Common Parenting Missteps Parents Make With Their Preschoolers

Parents do their best in nurturing and disciplining their preschoolers. Hence, there are still missteps parents make when dealing with their children.

During preschool years, the children want to explore the things around them and want their independence, according to CDC. "These ages (3-5) are among the most active and frustrating in terms of parenting," Michele Borba, EdD, the author of the Big Book of Parenting Solutions, said.

WebMD shares the following 5 common mistakes parents render to their toddlers. These must be inhibited to ensure healthy growth of your children:

1. Pondering only on the Negatives

Parents often point out only the negative actions done by their children. They say "Don't shout. Don't hit. Don't be naughty." It is recommendable to stop focusing on their negative actions alone and appreciate the positive actions they do. You can give them a kiss or a hug or a praise to show your appreciation to them. Your compliments would make them feel good.

2. Inconsistency

Preschoolers are confused and may throw tantrums if you are not consistent in your routines, sleep habits and discipline. For example, the child wants to know why his mom let her play in the playground after schooling and then the next day his mom asked him to get in the car right away. "The key for preschoolers is consistency," Tanya Remer Altmann, the author of Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents' Top 101 Questions about Babies and Toddlers, said. Be consistent in your routines and discipline strategies.

3. Encouraging Whining

Parents become impatient when their children start to whine when they want something. Parents then give in to their children's whining. These strengthen the attention-getting behavior.

"This is the age when your children come out of their shells," Borba said. "Watch out because they figure out what works." The best thing that parents must do is to ignore their whining.

4. Taking for Granted the Importance of Play

Some parents do not want their children to play; instead, they enroll them in enrichment programs.

"Free play is how the children's brains develop best," Lawrence Cohen, a psychologist and the author of Playful Parenting, said. "In a play, children will naturally give themselves the right amount of challenge--not easy or too hard."

Parents must provide playing time for their children. Let them have playday with their schoolmates or friends. This will develop their social and mental skills. "Preschoolers love to vacuum or do housework, but it's play. It's not on their chore list. They've chosen to do it and they're just doing it for fun," Cohen concluded.

5. Too Much Occupied with the Daily Grind

Parents are too busy doing multi-tasking yet unconsciously neglecting their children. "There's something children miss out on if parents don't get in the flow and play with them," Cohen continued.

"Kids aren't dumb. They know whether we're really paying attention or not," he added. Stay involved with your children and give time for them. Play, eat and talk with them. Know what they are doing and from time to time, give them a tight hug. It's indeed priceless.

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