Sunday, February 2, 2014

FRIENDSHIP IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS


                                                              


At age three or four years, your child might be very skilled at interacting with peers, especially if they have siblings close to their own age. But even if they had little experience getting along with other children, that doesn’t automatically, place them at a disadvantage. A child who is a beginner with peers can catch on quickly, while some old hands might need to unlearn behaviors (such as toy snatching) that worked in a previous setting, but not anymore.
In addition to his past experiences, a child’s temperament plays a big role in how easily he gets along with other people. A moderately active, outgoing, cheerful child often has a relatively easy time. A child with high energy and strong impulses often has more negative early relationships until he develops some measure of self-control. A cautious child might spend lots of time observing from a distance, until he’s more comfortable in a given setting. Even then, he might choose to have one or two friends, rather than several. It takes parents who know their children well, and teachers who can work with a range of different children, to make the preschool experience positive for every child.
Friends are vital to early childhood children’s healthy development. Research has found that children who lack friends can suffer from emotional and mental difficulties later in life. Friendships provide children with more than just fun playmates. Friendships help children develop emotionally and morally. In interacting with friends, children learn a lot of social skills, such as how to communicate, cooperate, and solve problems. They practice controlling their emotions and responding to the emotions of others. They develop the ability to think through and negotiate different situations that arise in their relationships. Having friends even affects children’s school performance. Children tend to have better attitudes about school and learning when they have friends to share it with.
Enjoy,
Ms. Nora Sierra
Early Childhood Coordinator

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