We all know that children are very impressionable and learn a lot at a very young age. Within the first 5 years alone, kids learn to walk and talk, start making small decisions and even begin to learn responsibility and other key lifestyle character traits.
If you’re looking for some ideas on how to give your young preschool-aged child the best start in life, here are just a few suggestions that will help.
1 – Teach Them To Be Sociable
Many children can be quite shy if they don’t naturally have an outgoing personality. That’s why being sociable should always be encouraged. This could be in the form of encouraging them to participate in conversations or even arranging playdates with other children around their own age.
Humans are social creatures, so developing positive social skills through increasing self-confidence is something that will serve them well for their entire lives.
This also teaches children to be more independent, if they get out and about and spend quality time with their peers. This independence also reduces the possibility of a child suffering separation anxiety when they start school.
2 – Exercise and Good Nutrition Must Start Early
The bodies of children are developing at a rapid rate, virtually from the moment they’re born. By the time a child has reached the age where they can confidently walk, it’s vital that they get regular exercise, so their growing bodies develop into fit and strong young bodies, something that will likely carry on through into adulthood. Always encourage your child to get as much exercise as possible, whether it be through sport, playtime, or some other physical activity.
Teaching children the benefits of good nutrition early on is also vital. We know kids tend to favor junk food or protein-based food at a young age and are often averse to eating much in the way of vegetables, but there are ways you can encourage kids to eat well. One way is to disguise vegetables into meals they already do like to eat, such as meat pies, for example. Just search online for some cool recipes.
It’s also worthwhile regularly explaining why they should eat healthy food and drink nutritious drinks. Maybe they won’t take it on board at first, but repetition can be very powerful, so eventually, they will understand.
3 – Enrol Your Child In An Early Education Facility
Enrolling your young child or children in an early child care center is one of the most positive steps you can take as a parent. If you truly want to give your child the best start in life, this is one major step to accomplishing that.
Early education centers offer a variety of activities and programs to encourage positive development on every level in young kids. This includes getting a start in core education subjects, learning about nutrition and healthy living, participating in activities that teach children social skills and develop high self-esteem, and preparing them for the school years to come.
By the time your child reaches school age, they will already have learned so much and developed both physically and mentally on a higher level.
4 – Always Make Time for Your Kids
In the early years especially, the people your child will learn the most from are their parents and siblings (if they have siblings). As busy as life can sometimes get, it’s important that parents always strive to find regular moments of quality time to spend with children.
Kids not only need this nurturing to feel happy and secure but these moments also present opportunities to teach kids the knowledge and wisdom you’ve acquired over the years, including helping them to avoid mistakes you’ve made in the past.
Even parent/child playtime is very beneficial in a child’s developmental process, as kids have fun, while at the same time learning how to interact respectfully with adults; something that’s vital when they start school.
The Wrap
Anything you can do to promote positive development in a child at a very early age is a good thing. The things children learn when they are young often become a part of who they are for the remainder of their lives, so start them off on the right foot.
