How can you help your preschooler to
social distance? Unlike adults, young children may struggle to
understand why and how this potentially life-saving strategy works.
Whether your child is ready to go back to pre-k right now or needs to
wait until the next preschool year, take a look at how to help them
social distance effectively.
Understand Your Child's Development
Even though your child is developing at
a rapid pace, they may not have the ability to fully understand
social distancing in a way that makes sense to you. Before you dive
deep into helping your child stay six feet away from everyone other
than you and other household members, take some time to understand
social distancing in the context of the young child's development.
Preschool developmental areas that play
a role in the ability to understand and follow social distancing
rules include:
- Memory. As your child
reaches age three, you may notice a significant increase in their
ability to remember and recall information. Even though memory
development grows in complexity during the preschool years, your
child is still building this skill.
- View of others. Younger
children tend to see the world from an egocentric perspective. This
means they often think more about themselves than others. Don't
confuse egocentric thinking with selfishness, however. Your child
will gradually develop the ability to see other people's
perspectives.
- Single classifications.
Your child may still have limits on how many ways they classify an
item. Instead of multiple ways to classify items, people, or
concepts, they'll use a singular approach.
- Imagination. Your
preschooler may create pretend friends or have an increased ability
to pretend play.
- Social growth. Preschooler
social skills may include the ability to make true friends, share,
take turns, and communicate effectively with others.
Now that you know more about your
child's development, it's time to take the next step and integrate
social distancing into their day.
Role-Play Social Distancing
Lectures on the benefits of social
distancing may confuse or even scare your young child. Without the
ability to understand the intricacies of viral spread and why social
distancing is a safety measure, your child may either ignore the
"stay six feet away" rule or feel frightened by it.
To turn the concept of social
distancing into something concrete that your child can easily
understand and follow:
- Create concrete distances.
Use a ribbon, yarn, shoes (lined up), or another physical marker to
show your child what six feet looks like. This will help your child
understand the distance part of social distancing and make
role-playing easier.
- Approach role-playing in a calm
way. Stay calm, make the experience enjoyable, and role-play
staying six feet away in a non-threatening way. This can reduce your
child's anxiety while helping them to understand the concept.
- Act out potential scenarios.
Role-play possible interactions with your child. These could include
a pretend play scene set at daycare, the grocery store, or any other
potential social setting.
Even though your child may not
completely grasp the idea of social distancing, use role-playing
periods to practice for real life. Along with role playing together,
used stuffed animals and dolls as part of social distancing pretend
play.
Use a Positive Approach
How should you handle your child's
incorrect social distancing behaviors? If your child refuses to play
by the rules, you can help them learn without adding fear, anxiety,
or stress to the situation. Gently correct your child and avoid harsh
words or discipline for missteps. Praise their positive behaviors and
use calm guidance.
Is your young child ready to start
preschool? Contact Riviera
Daycare & Preschool
for more information.
