Ready to Explore
Kids ages 3-5 have tons of energy and are eager to walk, run,
dance, and play. It's a great age for exploration too.
Preschoolers learn a lot when given the chance to investigate their
environments (with supervision, of course).
There's much for preschoolers to explore. Now that
they're older, they can focus their energy and tackle more
complex activities like playing dress-up, riding trikes, planting
seeds, or building something out of snow.
With patience and some imagination, you can help your
preschooler be a safe and happy explorer.
Encouraging Exploration
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Hang back.
Resist the urge to give your child too many directions or too much
correction. Try offering encouragement instead. If your child wants
to use her shoe as a hat or a pretend teacup, so be it. The
language you use can make a difference. Say, "That makes a
great hat!" or "How does that tea taste?"
If your child is doing something unsafe, gently correct or
distract. For example, explain the real use of an object ("The
pot is for cooking, not bonking your little brother"), then
encourage exploration of more acceptable uses for it, such as
getting a spoon and using the pot as a drum or to make a pretend
soup.
You can suggest ideas for play, but chances are your child may
have a different activity in mind - or might stumble onto something
intriguing. Allowing kids some time without intervention can help
them develop their creativity and learn to master tasks on their
own.
Mistakes are OK.
Trial-and-error is a brilliant teacher. Letting go enough to let
your child fail in a small way (like being unsuccessful at working
a zipper) is good for both of you. When your child begins to do
something incorrectly and gets frustrated, offer encouragement. You
also can provide ample opportunities to keeping working at the
skill that's being mastered. Then one day soon, your
child will be zippering like a champ.
Activity Ideas for Preschoolers
You don't have to go anywhere special to encourage
exploration. Here are some easy ways to do it:
Splash It Up
Kids at this age love water and wet sensations. Find safe
household items or look for stuff in the yard that could be washed
and examined. What happens to a leaf when it gets wet? What about a
rock? Set them up in an area that can get wet - outside, in the
bathtub, at a table with a waterproof cloth on it and the floor
below - and let them wash, rinse, dunk, and splash! As always, be
sure to supervise kids closely during water play.
Please Touch
Making "touch bowls" of things like corn kernels,
flour, dried beans, rice, dry spiral pasta, or sand can give
children interesting things to feel, grasp, dump, and pour. Be sure
to supervise so no one tries to eat what's in the bowls.
Act It Out
Preschoolers also enjoy role-playing games. Provide safe props
for everyday tasks like going grocery shopping, cooking dinner, or
going to work. And give them a box of old clothes, hats, and other
accessories so they can dress whatever part they're
playing.
Create a Work of Art
It may end up being abstract art, but that's OK. Fill a
"creation box" with drawing materials, stickers, clay,
pipe cleaners, straws, and blocks. Lay down newspaper inside, or on
a warm day, let them create outdoors.
Watch Nature
With child-safe binoculars and a magnifying glass, kids can
explore the great outdoors. This can work in your backyard
in or any nature-rich environment.
When it's safe to do so, let your child lead the way. Stay a
pace or two behind and let your child make the discoveries.
It's fun when mom or dad points out a ladybug scooting
across a leaf. But if you're a preschooler, it's even more
fun when you can call out, "Hey, Mom. Look at this!"
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: February 2009
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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