Preschool

Common challenges:

• Curiosity about adult routines and celebrations
• Exposure to alcohol at family gatherings or events

Quick tips:

• Explain the difference between kids’ and adults’ choices: “Some things are safe for grown-ups, but not for children.”
• Model healthy coping: Show ways you manage stress without alcohol — like taking a walk or deep breaths.
• Set early norms: Make alcohol-free celebrations normal and fun.
• Use teachable moments: When seeing alcohol on TV, talk about how it affects people differently.

How to respond:

• If they ask why adults drink, try: “Some adults drink alcohol, but it can make them dizzy or sick. That’s why we choose other ways to have fun.”

Signs to watch for:

• Asking to taste or drink alcohol
• Acting out adult drinking behaviors
• Confusion or distress when alcohol is present

Common challenges:

• Nightmares or fear of dark
• Worry about everyday events
• Shyness or reluctance to engage with peers

Tips for parents:

• Encourage expression through play: Art, dolls, or storytelling help them express feelings.
• Use simple coping strategies: Deep breaths, gentle stretching, or a “calm corner.”
• Validate and normalize feelings: “It’s okay to feel scared sometimes.”
• Limit exposure to stressors: Monitor scary media or stressful conversations.

Signs to watch for:

• Withdrawal from play
• Frequent stomachaches or headaches
• Constant worries or asking repetitive questions about fears

Common challenges:

• Developing awareness of gender norms and appearance
• Beginning comparisons with peers or media characters

Tips for parents:

• Encourage diverse representation: Use books and toys showing varied body types.
• Promote body appreciation: Talk about healthy habits like playing outside or eating well.
• Avoid weight-related language: Focus on health, strength, and energy, not size.

Signs to watch for:

• Expressing dissatisfaction with appearance
• Imitating negative body talk from peers or media

Common challenges:

• Difficulty following instructions or focusing
• Emotional outbursts or mood swings
• Challenges with coordination and balance

Tips for parents:

• Break tasks into small steps: Make instructions simple and clear.
• Use visual supports: Pictures or charts can help with routines and learning.
• Encourage safe physical activity: Balance and coordination exercises can help recovery.
• Be patient with emotions: Validate feelings and give reassurance.

Signs to watch for:

• Trouble with basic tasks like dressing or self-feeding
• Persistent tantrums or anxiety
• Coordination difficulties or frequent falls

Common challenges:

• Early teasing or exclusion from peers
• Difficulty understanding others’ feelings

Tips for parents:

• Teach empathy: Talk about feelings and how actions affect others.
• Role-play scenarios: Practice how to respond if someone takes a toy or says something mean.
• Encourage reporting: Let them know it’s okay to tell an adult if they feel upset.
• Model conflict resolution: Show calm ways to handle disagreements.

Signs to watch for:

• Crying or aggression after playdates
• Reluctance to attend preschool or play with peers

Common challenges:

• Developing understanding of numbers, rewards, and fairness
• Exposure to family or community gambling (raffles, games, etc.)

Quick tips:

• Teach about earning, not winning: Talk about how money is earned by working, not by chance.
• Play for fun, not prizes: Choose games where everyone enjoys participating rather than competing for rewards.
• Model patience: Avoid impulsive behaviors that might look like risk-taking.

How to respond:

• If they ask why someone buys lottery tickets, say, “They’re hoping to win money, but most people don’t. It’s better to save our money for things we really need.”

Common challenges:

• Understanding rules and boundaries around safety
• Learning from watching adults’ habits

Tips for parents:

• Continue reinforcing safety messages: “Only a grown-up can give you medicine.”
• Use storybooks or role-play: Simple ways to explain why drugs or unsafe substances can hurt our bodies.
• Model healthy coping: Show how you handle stress with exercise, deep breathing, or talking — not substances.
• Praise safe choices: Recognize when they follow directions or make healthy decisions.

Signs to watch for:

• Mimicking adult behaviors like pretending to “take medicine” for fun
• Curiosity about what adults drink or take

Common challenges:

• Struggling to understand new family dynamics, routines, or environments
• Expressing feelings through behavior rather than words

Tips for parents:

• Explain changes in simple, concrete terms: Use books or stories about change.
• Encourage expression through play or art: Drawing feelings or acting out scenarios.
• Validate feelings: “It’s okay to feel sad or mad about this.”
• Keep routines consistent: Meals, bedtime, and play schedules remain anchors.

Signs to watch for:

• Increased tantrums or aggression
• Withdrawal or clinginess
• Sleep or appetite changes

Common challenges:

• Increased interest in digital devices and TV
• Difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality

Tips for parents:

• Set clear limits: Create screen-free zones (like mealtime and bedtime).
• Choose educational, age-appropriate content: Focus on programs that encourage creativity or learning.
• Encourage active use: Dance, sing, or move along with shows.
• Practice transitions: Give 5-minute warnings before screen time ends.

Signs to watch for:

• Imitating inappropriate behaviors from media
• Irritability or overstimulation after screen use
• Reduced interest in imaginative play

Common challenges:

• Navigating friendships and early social groups
• Learning empathy, cooperation, and communication

Tips for parents:

• Role-play social situations: Practice saying “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry.”
• Encourage inclusive play: Help them welcome others and share toys.
• Teach emotional expression: Validate feelings while setting boundaries.
• Model respect: Show them how to listen and respond kindly.

Signs to watch for:

• Frequent fighting or exclusion from playgroups
• Difficulty expressing feelings with words
• Trouble following simple social rules

Common challenges:

• Curiosity about differences between boys and girls
• Learning social norms around touch

Tips for parents:

• Reinforce body safety rules: “Private parts are private.”
• Answer questions honestly, simply: Use age-appropriate language.
• Model respectful interactions: Show politeness, consent, and boundaries.
• Encourage expression: Let them talk about feelings without judgment.

Signs to watch for:

• Sexualized play with peers that is persistent or inappropriate
• Fear or anxiety about normal routines (bathroom, dressing)

Common challenges:

• Learning about emotions but not yet understanding permanence or death
• Mimicking stress or worry from others

Tips for parents:

• Encourage open emotional expression: Let them know all feelings are okay to share.
• Use stories or play: Books about feelings can help them process emotions.
• Model problem-solving: Show them how you calm down or ask for help when upset.
• Reassure them: Let them know they are loved, safe, and cared for.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Frequent talk about being “bad” or “going away”
• Unusual sadness or anger that doesn’t improve
• Loss of interest in friends or favorite activities

Common challenges:

• Early exposure to smoking or vaping in media or peers
• Imitating adult behavior out of curiosity

Tips for parents:

• Talk about health in simple terms: “Smoking can make people sick.”
• Encourage role-playing healthy choices: Praise pretend play that shows healthy habits.
• Avoid glamorizing: Do not smoke or vape in front of children.
• Reinforce body awareness: Teach that lungs and hearts need care to stay strong.

Signs to watch for:

• Repeated play mimicking smoking
• Questions about cigarettes or vaping

Common challenges:

• Developing social skills and emotional regulation
• Exposure to sugary foods or screen time

Tips for parents:

• Encourage healthy nutrition: Include fruits, vegetables, and water; limit processed snacks.
• Promote social-emotional learning: Practice sharing, empathy, and talking about feelings.
• Support daily physical activity: Dancing, running, and playground time help energy and mood.
• Limit screen time: Focus on interactive or educational play instead.

Signs to watch for:

• Poor eating or movement habits
• Difficulty playing or interacting with peers
• Frequent tantrums or anxiety