Each year of childhood is its own unique, wild, and beautiful journey. We’re only three months into four but I’ve already had to be mindful about parenting shifts to accommodate my super smart four year old.
3 Tips for Parenting a 4-Year-Old
Don’t push the nap
I recently found myself in a battle at nap time and a battle at bedtime and it was just exhausting. I decided to not force a nap every day after school. Instead, if she needs it (or I need it!) she has an hour of quiet time where she can play in her room and we get a break from each other if needed. In weekends with lots of activity she’ll often still get a nap in. I try to gauge what she needs instead of sticking to a schedule for the schedules sake. Which bring me to my next point.
Avoid rushing
As much as you can, plan ahead so you don’t have to rush. Can preschoolers even understand the concept of late? Trying to rush is a surefire way for my daughter to get frustrated and for me to lose my patience. As much as possible I try to give us ample time to get ready to leave the house for a train or a timed event to make us both happier.
Allow for freedom
I try to give my daughter as much unstructured time as I can, within reason. Follow your child’s lead when it comes to activities. Balance restricting activities, like seeing a show or movie, with activities that allow them to run around freely. I’m the master of planning crafts for us, but even during craft time I’ve realized that sometimes she’d rather freely glue and color than create the intricate reindeer hat I had planned lol.
