Usual behavior of a preschooler (3-6 years): What to expect?

Children beyond the age of three are already experienced explorers of the world around them. They are very curious and often ask series of questions. Also, they can now be very focused on things that attract their attention: for example, following a row of ants moving on a tree by the road you are passing.

It is common for a child of this age to want more independence in both behavior and decision-making. This is why it's important to allow them enough time for it: go for a walk or leave for your destination early to allow your child to discover without hindrance. They really need your support and the opportunity to do things independently, and to make decisions about things that are important to them (eg. what to give a friend as a birthday present, what to wear to kindergarten, where to go for a walk in the afternoon, etc.). Both your support and these opportunities build the child's feeling of self-confidence, so with positive attention, praise and a sense of security with you - they become great opportunities for practicing skills and exploring new ones.

At this age, play is very rich and imaginative. While playing, the child skillfully explores further and experiences the situations he/she encounters every day, attributes human behavior to animals and dolls, analyzes different relationships and behaviors and draws conclusions about it in play - tries out various consequences, enacts feelings and the like.

At this age, children continue to learn very quickly. There are very stimulating learning opportunities in the usual home routines (for example in preparing meals, shopping, planning leisure time, visits and socializing, setting the table...); they rely on the child's participation and positive attention - parents' skills to support and expand the child's experience, praise the child's engagement, curiosity, dexterity...

Children at this age experience many positive effects of joint activities with peers. Playing with peers, especially in mixed groups (groups of different ages), offers numerous opportunities to explore and learn about themselves and the world, especially interpersonal relationships. For this reason, it is important for children to start kindergarten at this age. When your child starts kindergarten, keep in mind that he/she will need your support to understand and accept his/her new role, new routines, to get to know the adults and peers around him/her and to make daily transitions from the "kindergarten reality" to the home reality and routines.

Your child's emotions are very strong at this age, they change quickly and the child is still learning to understand and manage them. Hence, it can still be very challenging for the child to regulate his/her behavior in challenging situations - when there is a source of frustration, fear or anger. You can help him/her with this big and important task by talking openly about feelings: expressing and naming your different feelings, as well as offering the child a name for his/her or a peer's feelings.