Helping Your Children of Kindergarten Age
Date: 24/03/2023
How to Help Your Children Grow Up Happily
Healthy and happy growth comprises a balanced development in the domains of physique, intellect and emotion.
Care for your children’s physical health
● Develop their habit of going to bed early and getting up early
● Ensure they have sufficient sleep
● Teach them the correct postures of sitting and standing
● Raise their awareness of personal hygiene
● Provide them with a fresh and balanced diet
● Provide them with sufficient meal time
● Help them build up good eating habits, such as:
➣ maintain a balanced diet
➣ eat moderately at regular hours
➣ avoid having too many snacks
➣ wash hands before meals
➣ avoid wastage of food
● Take precautions to ensure safety at home and the surrounding environment
➣ identify the potential risks in the environment at children’s eye level
● Help them look after themselves, e.g. getting dressed, tidying up things, etc., so as to develop their coordination and self-care ability
● Let them have enough physical activities
Facilitate your children’s intellectual development
● Have a multitude of opportunities to talk with your children. Use open-ended questions to let them express their opinions and thoughts freely
● Listen to them with patience and try to understand their thoughts and feelings
● Give your children appropriate guidance, and encourage them to share what they have experienced in daily lives
● Make regular visits to libraries with your children. Read books together to foster their interest in reading
● Let them listen to music often. This will help to nurture their imagination and concentration, and soothe their emotional instability
● Spend more time to play with your children
➣ let them take the initiative and avoid giving too many restrictions and guidelines, so as to foster their creativity and imagination
● General tips on how to select toys for your children:
➣ choose those that match their abilities
➣ choose those that suit their interests
➣ avoid those with pointed or sharp edges or small components, and ensure that the materials are safe
➣ use diversified or open materials to unleash their creativity
➣ make good use of household articles or recycled products to create their own toys
● Pay attention to the following while your children are playing with their toys:
➣ avoid giving them too many toys at a time
➣ encourage them to tidy up after playing
➣ teach them to treasure their toys and not to discard old toys on receiving new ones
● Choose television programmes and computer games that are appropriate for your children. Watch TV together and explain when necessary. Teach them the right way to protect their eyesight while watching TV or computer screens
● Take your children to visits and exhibitions to enrich their life experience. Discuss with them the relevant subjects to broaden their general knowledge
Concern your children’s emotional and behavioural development
● All children need love and support. You should accept their individuality and give specific and appropriate encouragement. Help them build up their self-confidence
● Children need to be respected before they know how to respect others.Listen to what they say, try to understand and acknowledge their feelings. It helps children build up their self-esteem
● Children love imitating others. Adults should always be their good role models. Remember, your actions speak louder than words
● Good rapport and harmonious relationship among family members give children a sense of security. Children who grow up in a caring environment tend to be more emotionally stable
● Children usually comprehend things par tially. You must guide them thoroughly with patience on what they can do and how to do it right. The instructions given should be clear and specific, e.g. say “Please put the toys back to the basket” instead of “Don’t misplace the toys”
● Spoiling your children or giving free rein will hinder their development of the concepts of right and wrong. If their behaviour becomes dangerous, disruptive or destructive, you should stop them immediately
● Point out the mischief instead of criticising your children personally, e.g. say “I know you are unhappy, but vent your anger on the vase is not correct” instead of “You are such a rude child”
● You may not agree on your children’s behaviour, yet you may tr y to acknowledge their feelings
● Encourage your children to articulate their feelings in words instead of resorting to offensive, destructive or aggressive behaviour
● Arrange appropriate leisure activities and games to ventilate your children’s emotions. For example, take them to a park to run and jump freely
● Give your children a choice on trivial matters. For example, let them choosethe colour of their clothes. They would then feel respected and enjoy theautonomy
Parents should note that:
As your children grow up, they may experience problems concerning learning or adaptation in life situations. Most of these problems are neither serious nor permanent. They can be solved if you are willing to spend more time and effort to provide them with suitable and timely assistance. You should not be too worried. You should contact the school principal, teachers or relevant professionals as early as possible. Work together and adopt a positive and accepting attitude to sort out a solution that helps to promote a healthy and happy development of your children.
Education Bureau August 2017 (with updates in August 2022)