Parenting a preschooler has many anxious moments due to various developmental concerns. Find out how to deal with common developmental concerns of preschoolers.Are you amazed to see your little one brushing her teeth all on her own! Well, you are in for a lot many surprises during this month of her 4th year. Here we shall take a look at some of her other growth and development milestones that she might attain this month. Read along for some interesting facts:
Temperaments of your Preschooler
Different
preschoolers have different temperaments. While some of them may be outgoing, others may be shy and slow. Do not worry if your little one appears
shy, resistant and hesitant. She shall slowly outgrow her stubborn and slow attitude. You would be doing greater harm by threatening her or forcing her to be outgoing.
It is very essential that you do not interfere with her daily activities. She may be just little too cautious before trying anything new. If she appears too shy, you may probably try the following:
- Prepare her before she tries anything new. She might need to be prepared especially when she is among many outsiders.
- Rather than planning her activities with large groups, you can encourage her to participate in small groups.
- Give her time when she is trying something new.
- Praise her for all her good efforts and offer new opportunities to develop her self esteem.
- Praise her for good behaviours and try to hold yourself back from rescuing her, when she appears to be shy.
It is very important that you do not
criticise her for being too slow or shy. You will simply end up hurting her self esteem this way. Do not compare your little one with others; she has her entire life in front to achieve all that you want her to. You will be simply pressurising her with your expectations with unnecessary
comparisons. If you feel her shyness is becoming a matter of concern, you can bring it up to your doctor.
Sleep Patterns of a Preschooler
Your preschooler shall not spend more than an hour napping in the afternoon. It is important that you set bedtime routines that shall help her sleep better at night. Bed time stories or kissing her good night are some practices that shall prepare her to calm down and enjoy a good night's sleep. You can expect her to sleep around 12 hours at night. Proper sleep is highly essential for ensuring proper growth and development.
Potty Training and Setbacks
Even if you have been trying to train her, you may find her doing it all wrong. Well, if you see regressions, it might be the result of any kind of stress. May be she is finding it difficult to cope with her new day care or preschool. Her stress may also be due to shifts to a new house or change of place.
Rather than forcing her to use the potty, you can keep reminding her every 5 minutes if she would like to use it. You can also praise her and reward her once she uses it. Please make sure you do not turn it into a power struggle.
Constipation in Preschooler
Is constipation bothering your little one? Make sure she is not passing hard stools and has firm bowel movements. If you think she is constipated, you need to bring it up to her doctor. A constipation treatment guide shall help her get better soon.
There may be many other developmental concerns that you may be worried about. Do share your concerns with your doctor and seek effective suggestions. You shall love to see your little one grow up to a unique individual under your guidance. Happy parenting!
What are common developmental concerns in a preschooler? How should parents deal with developmental concerns? How to boost confidence in a shy preschooler? Discuss here. 
