Oh man, if there’s a point in a child’s development when parents are most concerned, it’s probably preschool age. This is the time when they start to make friends and play outside, and it is the time when parents need to be aware of what their children are learning. It’s certainly the four to five year range where you really start to have full conversations with your child, and realize that he’s been paying attention all those years! Every dirty word you blurt out when you’re mad at the jerk who just interrupted you, your child heard and memorized. That’s not just trying to elicit a giggle from our readers, there, that’s making a point: these are some of the most important years in your child’s development and education.
This is where all those words and skills you’ve learned over the years start to come in handy. They’re finally tall and strong enough to start doing things on their own, so it’s important to encourage the right interests, teach the right skills, and provide safe toys that will enrich their development.
These are the main points to think about: learning, safety, creativity and exercise.
Don’t wait for kindergarten to teach your children to read, write, and do basic math. If you teach your kids these skills early, they’ll see it as a fun adventure and not just the homework we all remember at school. Some of the best educational toys on the market right now include the Playskool Talk N Scan Cash Register, which is great for teaching younger kids basic math, and just about any of Leapfrog’s books can get toddlers started on learning. learn to appreciate reading. .
When it comes to creativity, the default answer is often Legos, but they can be a bit tricky for preschoolers, so the simpler Duplo sets may be a better choice for both safety and challenge level.
To exercise, choose your option. You definitely want to encourage physical activity, since some of your child’s most important physical development is happening right now, and just about anything that interests him will do the job. The problem is, for us city dwellers, you can’t always make it to the park and throw a soccer ball. So if you live in the city, indoor sports kits are a great option.
Basically what you want to look for on all fronts is something a bit safe and simple. Don’t go giving them toddler toys or anything, you want to challenge them, but you also don’t want to confuse the kid with a tricky boner game just yet. Toys always come with a recommended age range. If your child is a fast learner, he may fall out of that range in a year or two, but overall, it serves as a pretty solid guide to what’s appropriate for each age group.