Your Child Learns From Watching You
PHYSICAL HEALTH
I climb, throw, run, and jump.
We can have fun together.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL
I enjoy other children.
Give us toys we can each play with so we can learn to share.
HOW I LEARN
I play make-believe.
I love to pretend. Give me things I can use to play dress up.
THINGS I KNOW
I am learning to match.
Let me help you sort the laundry by color.
LANGUAGE
I can folow directions.
Give me simple steps, such as, “Please get the book and bring it to me.”
What you do is just as important as what you say. As a parent, you teach your child many things by talking to him or her. However, your child also learns from watching and copying you and other family members.
Practice healthy habits, such as getting regular exercise and not watching too much TV. Make sure he or she sees you brushing your teeth daily. Encourage healthy eating by eating nutritious foods yourself. If you smoke, now is a great time to stop. For information about quitting, call 1-800-QUITNOW (784-8669) or visit www.quitline.com.
Start Helping Your Child Problem-Solve
Show your toddler how you expect him or her to behave. This will help your child learn to control his or her own behavior. It will also help your child learn how his or her actions affect others. For example, if your child throws his or her toy truck:
- Show your child how he or she can play with the truck. "This is one way to play with the truck and be safe. Can you drive the truck like this?"
- Give your child a chance to play with the truck safely. If he or she keeps throwing it, suggest another toy. "I can see that you want to throw. Let's put away the trucks and get a ball we can throw."
Finding a Preschool
If you choose to send your child to preschool, it is important to start looking now for one that both you and your child like. There are many different kinds of programs to choose from. Here are a few things to do that may help you decide.
- Make a list of the things that are most important to both you and your child, and take it with you.
- Visit more than one preschool, talk to staff, and watch a class. Talk with other parents at the schools.
- Take your child to visit your final choices. Let her help make the decision if possible.
Visit www.del.wa.gov/care for more information.