Living with Young Children: Problems & Solutions By Dr. Kathy Siepak, UTPB siepak_k@utpb.edu 552-2167 April 14-20, 2013, is the Week of the Young Child. It’s time to let people know how special babies, toddlers and preschoolers are. We want young children to be safe, happy and smart. But children can be difficult to live with, sometimes. Their curiosity, energy and need for attention can drain any parent’s patience. But the “Early years are learning years,” so you want to keep your child’s brain active and engaged. Here are some ways to not only manage problems, but actually give your child’s development a boost. Problem: Haircut Experiments Children cannot control their impulses or ignore their curiosity. Scissors left out tempt them to try cutting their own hair or to snip interesting materials such as sofas and curtains. Children do not do these things to be mean or to ruin your house. They do it because they are intensely curious (a sign of intelligence!) and cannot control their impulses. Yet they need to cut, glue, and draw—with your supervision.
Solution: Put scissors in plastic jars. Put art supplies such as scissors, markers, glue, and paint sets in large, clear plastic jars (like from peanut butter or spaghetti sauce). Choose jars that have wide lids that are hard for little hands to open. That way, children can see the art supplies, but cannot open the jar to use them without an adult to supervise. Set the jars on a low shelf or in a basket on the floor. If you hide scissors, markers and glue in a drawer or cabinet, children forget about them, so they do not ask to use them. If they can see the art supplies in the jar, they will ask to use them. Problem: Getting into things Children are constantly exploring their environment. If you give them safe, appropriate toys, then they will stay out of trouble. They will also develop their cognitive (thinking) skills. However, it’s best to avoid using electronic devices that play videos and games. Continued on page 31.
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