Although it’s been said so many times before, watching a child grow, develop, and learn is truly like watching a miracle in action. The speed at which kids gain new skills and grasp new concepts is wonderful to watch and observe. While it is true that children reach developmental milestones at their own pace, parents often wonder if there is anything they can do to help stimulate their child’s growth in several different areas. Here are a few tips you can use to encourage your child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.
Help Your Preschooler Grow Physically
Food is fuel for physical growth, but some preschoolers can be picky eaters. Encourage healthy eating by incorporating shapes and colors into their daily meals and snacks. To increase their intake of fiber-rich fruits and veggies, consider offering baked goods and main dishes packed with healthy hidden ingredients. Butternut squash, spinach, avocado, and zucchini are all moisture-rich veggies that can be used to make decadent treats for little ones.
Help Your Preschooler Grow Emotionally
Many parents are familiar with the “marshmallow test,” a study determining how kids develop and practice resilience. You can encourage these skills in your preschooler by helping him identify feelings and emotions as they arise. Having a labeled poster with pictures of facial expressions can help kids learn and identify their feelings. When your child has a large emotion, ask her to point to the picture that best describes her in the moment. Numerous studies have shown that cortisol and distress decrease simply by giving a confused feeling a name.
Help Your Preschooler Grow Mentally
When parents think about encouraging intellectual development, they usually think of letter and number recognition, reading stories together, and problem-solving activities. However, don’t forget the importance of physical activity when it comes to mental development. The importance of physical activity extends beyond bodily health. Research has shown that regular physical activity can increase self-regulation and resilience, and encourage growth in the prefrontal cortex.
Help Your Preschooler Grow Socially
Interacting with others is so important for increasing empathy, sharing, and communication in preschoolers. A supportive preschool environment can provide myriad opportunities for social development in your preschoolers. By engaging in imaginative play with others, your little one will learn to communicate their needs, share joy with others, and practice building close friendships with same-age peers.
Helping Children Grow in a Million Different Ways
The activities at The Gardner School engage children in daily experiential learning. If you want to help your child develop their skills and talents, we can help. To see why parents choose The Gardner School, contact us to learn more or to schedule a virtual tour.