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Advice to Moms of Preschoolers
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Ladies, I thank God often for the wise counsel and encouragement you all give to each other, and I would love to spread that ministry a little wider.
I’m scheduled to speak to moms of preschoolers at a couple of homeschool conventions this summer and would love to pass along some Titus 2 counsel from older moms.
What advice would you give a younger mom with preschoolers? In other words, what would you make top priority or do differently if you were a younger mom again?
Thanks in advance for your prayerful replies!
Well, I still have a preschooler, but I also have a 9 and 13 year old and have learned much since my oldest was that young.
A couple of things I’ve learned:
-Let them get dirty, they are washable.
-Let them help with chores. It is OKAY that the towels aren’t folded “perfectly”.
-Take lots of time to cuddle with books, because they don’t fit on your lap for long.
Heather
Start dealing with disobediance when they are young and explain to them why it is important.
Talk to them, don’t underestimate the little ones ability to understand.
Don’t talk “baby talk” to them all the time. It may be cute when they are 2 and 3 but not as much when they are six and can’t be understood by anyone but you! They need to hear the words pronounced properly while they are still learning how to form the words. Even if they can’t get their mouths to form the words correctly they will know what they are supposed to sound like from early on and it will help them get to the point of clear speech easier. It will also help them later on when they are trying to learn the sounds of the individual letters.
Teach them that Jesus wants to hear them and that they can and should pray and talk to him. Teach them now the importance of worship.
I also have preschoolers, and my number one piece of advice is to make sure you do “something” scheduled with them first, esp. if they have older siblings. This is so important, and it will set the tone for the rest of the day. Once that preschooler feels like their tank is “full” of mom, they are much happier.
Another wise thing to do is have special items for them to busy themselves with during school time. These things only come out during school and can be rotated with other “just school” items.
I still have all little ones, but the best advice I was given, was to teach them the letter “sounds” in lieu of the letter “names”. Avoid the alphabet song and calling letters by their names – it makes teaching phonics lots easier and it’s so much more useful for a child to at least know the basic sounds when they are learning to read, rather than trying to learn the sounds and battling with their minds going first to the name of the letter.
I second everything else that has been said. Especially read, read, read, and get them outside playing as much as possible. What I also have to remind myself is to sit on the floor and play with them, whatever they want to play. What I need to do can usually wait.
I also heard some wonderful words from an experienced mom that still touches my heart when I think of it. Instead of saying, “Enjoy them. They are only young once.” (which infuriates me), she said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” It recognized the difficulties that I face each day (and some days are more difficult than others), yet is a good reminder to stop and enjoy them. I often think of that when we are in the middle of a temper tantrum.
My last in almost 4 now. So we’re still dealing. Amen to everything above, especially in the habits training area. So often we think they’re too young, or not capable or unable to control themselves. If we don’t expect much from them they won’t give us much and then we’ll be dealing with a headstrong, hard to control preschooler (I know whereof I’m speaking!)
Teach them the Gospel early. From the minute they’re born include them in family scripture reading and prayers.
Make time for them. If you are busy cooking or typing on the computer or reading or whatever and they come to you for something, no matter how small, stop and give them your full attention. But also teach them to respect your time. Set aside maybe 5 or 10 minutes a day to start with and teach them that it is Mom’s Time to pray or read the Bible or practice an instrument and they are NOT to interrupt. They may sit by you, on your lap, whatever, but they must respect that time. Start with small amounts and work up until you can get a decent amount of study/spiritual time and they can SEE you so it because the example is more powerful that way.
Pray for patience every day and then practice, practice, practice showing it.
Love them, Listen to them and Let them be kids! the 3 L’s in our home.
Set an example by what you do not what you say, cause you know they will catch that first. Misty
For a piece of practical advice, I always enourage moms to keep a medical journal for each child. It doesn’t need to be fancy. I just have a composition book for each child. All doctors and dentist visits are recorded as well as any medications and concerns or questions that I have. Thankfully my children are for the main part healthy, but I have still found my records to be valuable and I also see that the doctors tend to be a little more respectful and take more time when they know you are recording data.
Don’t purchase toys that need batteries.
Don’t get caught up in any rivalry with other moms. Each child develops differently, so it’s ok if your child doesn’t do “A” yet, because he probably does “B” quite well.
Hi
I still have a dd2 1/2 yr old and an ds8 yr old. I try to spend time with dd reading and doing things with her before I settle down to focus on things with ds and find dd is alot more settled for the day. We include her as much as possible in everything we do. But I have some activities ready to go that are for her special use. Like washing doll clothes in a tub of water and then pegging them up, then off again and back into the tub!! Playdough is always a winner and definitely outside time, I put clothes on the line everyday nearly, so I make sure dd helps me and then I give dd a swing, check the animals, get them to notice every leaf, bug, bird in the garden etc etc then inside for another cuppa! Read, read, read, sing, sing, sing children and pre-schoolers especially love stories & songs. Mine also love to look at family photos and talk about family and family history and ‘…when I was a little girl I used to…’.
I would say don’t buy toys at all. They get heaps from other family members and my children don’t play with them much anyway. Let them make, invent, construct everything themselves, even if it’s a little rock with a face drawn on!
I find I’m much better off, if I go to bed early and wake up early too.
Just enjoy them there is plenty of time for academics and they grow so quickly and then they go….
Blessings
Renelle
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