Peds-Chapter 5-Preschooler
The nurse is providing teaching about preventing poisoning. Which statement by the mother would warrant further discussion? a) "All medicine in our bathroom is in childproof containers." b) "I never transfer cleaning products out of their original containers." c) "We keep our lawn and garden products on a high shelf in the garage." d) "We have the poison control number located near our phone."
"All medicine in our bathroom is in childproof containers." The nurse should emphasize that while childproof caps on medications are important, all medications including those with childproof caps should still be kept locked. (Vitamins are medications.) The other statements are correct.
The father of a 4½-year-old boy has contacted the nurse because he is concerned that his son is frequently touching his genitals. The nurse explains that this is normal during the preschool years. Which statement by the father would indicate a need for further teaching? a) "This is probably a good time to talk about safety and who can touch him." b) "I have heard that both boys and girls often touch themselves at this age." c) "I will need to find an appropriate punishment for him if this continues." d) "I should teach him certain rules about this activity."
"I will need to find an appropriate punishment for him if this continues." The nurse should remind the father that overreaction to this behavior may cause it to occur more frequently. Masturbation at this age should be treated matter-of-factly. The other statements are correct.
The nurse is doing a well-child exam of a 5½-year-old girl. Which statement by the mother would alert the nurse that further teaching is needed about healthy eating habits? a) "Our family rule is that all children clean up their plates at each meal, and we feed them a lot." b) "Her serving sizes are about half the size of ours." c) "She enjoys planning meals and helping me in the kitchen." d) "I try to set a good example and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables." e) "We eat fast food less than once a month."
"Our family rule is that all children clean up their plates at each meal, and we feed them a lot." Children should not be expected to always eat everything on their plates, nor should they be rewarded for doing so. Appropriate serving sizes are important here. Children need to learn to self-regulate and eat only until full. The other statements indicate knowledge of healthy eating habits and are useful in developing positive attitudes toward eating and toward trying different foods.
The nurse is providing teaching about child safety to the parents of a 4-year-old girl. Which statement by the parents indicates a need for further teaching? a) "We need to know the basics of CPR and first aid." b) "She still needs a booster seat in the car." c) "We need to continually remind her about safety rules." d) "We need to tell her that her vitamins are candy."
"We need to tell her that her vitamins are candy." The nurse needs to remind the parents not to coax a child to take a vitamin supplement, tablet, or pill by calling it candy. The other statements are correct.
The nurse is providing teaching to the mother of a 4-year-old girl about bike safety. Which statement by the mother indicates a need for further teaching? a) "Pedal back brakes are better for her age group." b) "She should always ride on the sidewalk." c) "She can ride on the street if I am riding with her." d) "The balls of her feet should reach both pedals while sitting."
"She can ride on the street if I am riding with her." The preschooler is not mature enough to ride a bicycle in the street even if riding with adults, so the nurse should emphasize that the girl should always ride on the sidewalk even if the mother is riding with her daughter. The other statements are correct.
The nurse is providing teaching to the mother of a 4-year-old girl about bike safety. Which statement by the mother indicates a need for further teaching? a) "The balls of her feet should reach both pedals while sitting." b) "She can ride on the street if I am riding with her." c) "She should always ride on the sidewalk." d) "Pedal back brakes are better for her age group."
"She can ride on the street if I am riding with her." The preschooler is not mature enough to ride a bicycle in the street even if riding with adults, so the nurse should emphasize that the girl should always ride on the sidewalk even if the mother is riding with her daughter. The other statements are correct.
The nurse is providing teaching about proper dental care for the parents of a 5-year-old girl. Which response indicates a need for further teaching? a) "She needs to floss her teeth before brushing." b) "We should use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste." c) "She should see a dentist every 6 months." d) "Too much fluoride can contribute to fluorosis."
"She needs to floss her teeth before brushing." It is important to remind the parents that they should perform flossing in the preschool period because the child is unable to perform this task. The other statements are correct.
The parents of a 4-year-old girl tell the nurse that their daughter is having frequent nightmares. Which statement indicates that the girl is having night terrors instead of nightmares? a) "She has a hard time going back to sleep." b) "She comes and wakes us up after she awakens." c) "She screams and thrashes when we try to touch her." d) "She is scared after she wakes up."
"She screams and thrashes when we try to touch her." During a night terror, a child is typically unaware of the parent's presence and may scream and thrash more if restrained. During a nightmare, a child is responsive to the parent's soothing and reassurances. The other statements are indicative of a nightmare.
The nurse is conducting a health screening for a 3-year-old boy as required by his new preschool. Which statement by the parents warrants further discussion and intervention? a) "There is a very low student-teacher ratio, and they do a lot of hands-on projects." b) "The school has a looser environment, which is a good match for his temperament." c) "The school is quite structured and advocates corporal punishment." d) "The school requires processed foods and high sugar foods be avoided."
"The school is quite structured and advocates corporal punishment." The nurse needs to emphasize that there are number of reasons that a parent should not choose a preschool that utilizes corporal punishment. It may negatively affect a child's self-esteem as well as ability to achieve in school. It may also lead to disruptive and violent behavior in the classroom and should be discouraged. The other statements would not warrant further discussion or intervention.
What would be most effective in helping promote initiative and nutritional health for a preschooler? a) Giving the child a high carbohydrate snack after preschool b) Encouraging the child to cut up small pieces of apple for a snack c) Allowing the child to spread soft cheese on crackers d) Praising the child for cleaning his large plate of food
Allowing the child to spread soft cheese on crackers Allowing a child to do things such as spreading cheese on crackers helps to foster initiative and nutrition. High carbohydrate snacks should be avoided. Cutting an apple into pieces would be a safety issue. Apples are hard and difficult to cut, placing the child at risk for cutting himself. Small servings of food would be more appropriate because preschoolers do not have ravenous appetites. Praising the child for cleaning his plate which contains a small serving of food, not large, would be appropriate.
Parents say they have been using measures to lessen the struggle of getting their preschooler to bed at night and to sleep. Which practice will the nurse suggest they discontinue? a) Eliminating caffeine sources beginning late afternoon b) Planning for the child to get 12 hours of sleep daily c) Providing a nightlight d) Taking the TV set out of the child's room e) Allowing the preschooler to fall asleep wherever and whenever the child is tired enough
Allowing the preschooler to fall asleep wherever and whenever the child is tired enough Consistent bedtimes and places for sleep promote good sleep habits. Caffeine (soft drinks) interferes with sleep. A nightlight can reduce fear of the dark common in preschoolers. Removing the TV from the child's room prevents viewing and screen light from keeping her awake. Twelve hours of sleep daily is an average amount for preschoolers.
The nurse is presenting an in-service training to a group of pediatric nurses on the topic of play. After discussing various types of play, the following examples are given. Which is the best example of cooperative play? a) Children are playing together in an activity without organization. b) Children are playing independently and are side-by-side. c) Children are playing in an organized group with each other. d) Children are playing apart from others without being part of a group.
Children are playing in an organized group with each other. During cooperative play, children play in an organized group with each other as in team sports. Solitary independent play means playing apart from others without making an effort to be part of the group or group activity. Associative play occurs when children play together and are engaged in a similar activity but without organization, rules, or a leader, and each child does what she or he wishes. Parallel play occurs when the toddler plays alongside other children but not with them.
Which project or game would you anticipate that a preschooler would most enjoy while hospitalized? a) Planting flower bulbs that she can watch grow next spring b) Playing an electronic, hand-held game c) Dressing in her mother's coat to play house d) Turning out the lights to play hide and seek
Dressing in her mother's coat to play house Preschoolers do well with activities that call for imagination. They are not ready for fine-motor or long-term activities.
A 4-year-old tells you he has an imaginary friend. His parents are concerned because he refuses to do anything without his friend's help. Which nursing diagnosis is most applicable for his family? a) Deficient knowledge of normal preschool development b) Compromised family coping related to abnormal behavior of child c) Social isolation related to unwillingness to relate except through imaginary friend d) Disturbed thought processes related to deep-set psychological need
Deficient knowledge of normal preschool development Because a preschooler's imagination is at a peak, imaginary friends are not uncommon.
The nurse is organizing an indoor play area for preschoolers. What play materials are least important? a) CD player with music and musical instruments b) Electronic teaching toys c) Balls, blocks, and puzzles d) Dress-up clothes and hats and puppets e) Cut, paste, drawing, and painting materials
Electronic teaching toys These are expensive and usually cannot be used in multiple ways or shared with a group of children. All the rest of the items have many uses, stimulate imagination and creativity, promote social interaction, and are relatively inexpensive and readily replaced.
The mother of a 4-year-old boy reports her son has voiced curiosity about her breasts. She asks the nurse what she should do. Which information is best for the nurse to give the parent? a) Encourage the parent to provide a detailed discussion about human sexuality with the child. b) Advise the parent that sexual curiosity is unusual at this age. c) Encourage the parent to determine what the child's specific questions are and answer them briefly. d) Advise the parent to explain to the child that he is too young to discuss such things.
Encourage the parent to determine what the child's specific questions are and answer them briefly. Sexual curiosity is normal in the preschool-aged child. The parents should be encouraged to provide brief, honest answers to the child. The parents must also determine the type of curiosity the child has. Explanations should be within the level of understanding of the child.
Telling tall tales is harmless and should be encouraged in preschoolers because it helps them develop their imaginations. a) False b) True
False Parents may be concerned "tall tales" can lead to chronic lying if supported. Caution them, therefore, not to encourage this kind of storytelling, but instead help the child separate fact from fiction by saying, "That's a good story, but now tell me what really happened." This conveys the idea a child has not told the truth, yet does not squash imagination or initiative.
A 4-year-old is hospitalized with a urinary tract infection. Based on what you know of her cognitive development, which approach would be best to prepare her for a radiograph? a) Explain that she must behave because the technician is busy. b) Tell her a radiograph is a picture of the dark inside her body. c) Tell her she must follow directions or she will be hurt. d) Help her pretend the x-ray machine is a camera.
Help her pretend the x-ray machine is a camera. Most preschoolers express fear of the dark and mutilation. Their active imaginations make it possible to turn almost any procedure into a game.
A nurse is describing growth and development during the preschool period. What would the nurse identify as a predominant and heightened characteristic for this age group? a) Fine motor skills b) Vocabulary c) Imagination d) Gross motor skills
Imagination Although vocabulary, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills improve during this time, the imagination of preschoolers is keener than it will be at any other time in their lives. They imitate behavior that they see exactly.
A nurse is observing a 3-year-old preschooler engaged in play. What behavior would the nurse most likely expect to observe? a) Solitary play b) Imitative play c) Group play d) Parallel play
Imitative play Preschoolers enjoy games that use imitation such as pretending to be teachers, cowboys, firefighters, and store clerks. They imitate exactly what they see their parents doing. Parallel play is characteristic of toddlers. Preschoolers are capable of sharing and play with other children as a means for socialization. Older preschoolers are interested in group games
Parents tell the nurse their 3½-year-old refuses to eat meat but are pleased she drinks "lots of milk." What risk does the nurse identify? a) Interference with growth b) Dental caries c) Obesity d) Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency Meat is an important iron source while calcium in milk consumed in large quantities can block iron absorption. Alternate protein sources can replace the meat in the child's diet for growth. Excess milk intake that boosts calories consumed can be an obesity-causing factor. Lactose from milk in constant contact with the teeth can promote development of dental caries. However, these risks are slight, with the iron deficiency risk pronounced.
A father and his 4-year-old son are waiting in an exam room when the nurse enters and greets them. Which activity that the nurse observes the boy doing would best demonstrate the primary developmental task of the preschool-age child, according to Erikson? a) Reading a book b) Rough-housing with his father c) Opening drawers in the room, pulling out supplies, and examining them d) Singing a song he learned at preschool
Opening drawers in the room, pulling out supplies, and examining them The developmental task for the preschool-age child is to achieve a sense of initiative versus guilt (Erikson, 1993). Children with a well-developed sense of initiative like to explore as they have discovered that learning new things is fun. Opening the drawers, pulling out supplies, and examining them is the best example of initiation and exploration among these answers. Rough-housing and singing a song learned in preschool are examples of typical play for preschool children. Reading a book at age four would be developmentally precocious but would not necessarily be the best example of initiative.
A nursing instructor is teaching students about changes during the preschool years. One predominant change that the teacher would emphasize is: a) Cognitive growth slows. b) Personality growth slows. c) Physical growth accelerates. d) Physical growth slows.
Physical growth slows. During the preschool period, physical growth slows considerably, while personality and cognitive growth continue at a rapid rate.
The nurse is conducting a well-child assessment of a 4-year-old. Which assessment finding warrants further investigation? a) Presence of 20 deciduous teeth b) Presence of 19 deciduous teeth c) Presence of 10 deciduous teeth d) Absence of dental caries
Presence of 10 deciduous teeth The presence of only 10 deciduous teeth would warrant further investigation. The preschooler should have 20 deciduous teeth present. The absence of dental caries or presence of 19 teeth does not warrant further investigation.
The nurse is observing a playgroup of children of all ages. The preschoolers in the group would most likely be doing which activity? a) Painting pictures in the art corner of the room. b) Playing a board game. c) Pretending to be mommies and daddies in the playhouse. d) Watching a movie with other children their age.
Pretending to be mommies and daddies in the playhouse. Preschool children have imitative play, pretending to be the mommy, the daddy, a policeman, a cowboy, or other familiar characters. The school-age child enjoys group activities, such as board games, and making things, such as drawings, paintings, and craft projects. The adolescent enjoys activities they can participate in with their peers.
A 4-year-old is going to finger paint for the first time. What is the best action for the adult supervisor of this activity? a) Draw a picture first for the child to see how to do it. b) Make a model for the child to follow so it will be easy to copy. c) Tell the child that it will be fun but that he or she should not make a mess. d) Support whatever the child paints.
Support whatever the child paints. Preschoolers have a vivid imagination and need little direction for free-form play, such as finger painting. If a person draws a tree and tells the child to draw one, the child may no longer have fun, because he knows that his tree will not look as good. The preschooler is not ready for competition and will drop out of the activity.
The nurse is discussing development of fine motor skills in the preschool-age group with a group of nursing students. Which statement is most accurate regarding the fine motor skills of a 3-year-old? a) The child can use scissors. b) The child can tie his shoelaces. c) The child can button his clothes. d) The child can print a few letters.
The child can button his clothes. The 3-year-old is able to button their clothes and use a pencil or crayon. By the age of 4 to 5, the child can use scissors, tie shoelaces, and print his first name.
Which gross motor skill would the 4-year-old child have most recently attained? a) The child can hop on one foot. b) The child can tie his/her shoelaces. c) The child can cut his/her food. d) The child can button his/her clothes.
The child can hop on one foot. Gross and fine motor skills continue to develop rapidly in the preschool-age child. Gross motor skills have to do with the development of large muscles. Balance improves and around the age of 4 the child can hop on one foot.
In teaching caregivers of preschool children, the nurse would reinforce that which of the following would be most important for this age group? a) The preschool child should be screened for amblyopia. b) The preschool child should brush and floss teeth after snacks and meals. c) The preschool child should cover mouth when coughing or sneezing. d) The preschool child should wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
The preschool child should wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle. A major cause of accidents in the preschool child occurs when the child is not properly restrained in a motor vehicle. Safety is the highest priority.
Fear of mutilation is significant during the preschool age. a) True b) False
True Fear of mutilation is significant during the preschool age, as revealed by the intense reaction of a preschooler to even a simple injury such as falling and scraping a knee or having a needle inserted for an immunization. A child cries afterward not only from the pain but also from the intrusiveness of the injury or procedure.
At a physical examination, a nurse asks the father of a 4-year-old how the boy is developing socially. The father sighs deeply and explains that his son has become increasingly argumentative when playing with his regular group of three friends. The nurse recognizes that this phenomenon is most likely due to: a) preschoolers having a harder time sharing than toddlers. b) regression. c) testing and identification of group role. d) playing in an even-number group of children (four).
testing and identification of group role. Although 4-year-olds continue to enjoy play groups, they may become involved in arguments more than they did at age 3, especially as they become more certain of their role in the group. This development, like so many others, may make parents worry a child is regressing. However, it is really forward movement, involving some testing and identification of their group role. Because 3-year-olds are capable of sharing, they play with other children their age much more agreeably than do toddlers, which makes the preschool period become a sensitive and critical time for socialization. The elementary rule that an odd number of children will have difficulty playing well together generally pertains to children at this age: two or four will play, but three or five will quarrel.
In counseling a group of parents regarding the development of school readiness in preschoolers, the nurse emphasizes: a) the home environment. b) visiting the kindergarten. c) library visits and story hour. d) enrollment in a preschool.
the home environment. The home environment is the foundation for the child's learning and is the most important element for developing school readiness. Values regarding learning originate at home. Parents are the first teachers and role models. Structure, proper behavior with others, and language skills are all developed at home and are essential for school success. The other options are important but not as vital as the home environment. A preschool experience can foster social skills and group interaction. Library story hour and books develop language skills, and visiting a kindergarten can help the child make the transition to school.
The nurse is providing teaching about car seat safety for a parents' meeting at the preschool their children attend. Choose the points the nurse should make. Select all that apply. a) Booster seats should be used with both a shoulder and lap belt. b) Many car seats are installed improperly, making them unsafe. c) Children who weigh less than 40 pounds should use a car seat with harness and top tether. d) The back seat remains the safest place for children to ride.
• Children who weigh less than 40 pounds should use a car seat with harness and top tether. • Many car seats are installed improperly, making them unsafe. • The back seat remains the safest place for children to ride. • Booster seats should be used with both a shoulder and lap belt. All options are correct and are important safety points for the nurse to make
The mother of a 4-year-old reports using time-outs as a means for disciplining the child. Which statement by the mother would require the nurse to provide additional teaching? a) "I put him in time-out when the problem occurs." b) "The time-out doesn't just have to be in his room." c) "I usually have him in time-out for about 10 minutes." d) "He is allowed out of time-out when he is calm."
"I usually have him in time-out for about 10 minutes." A time-out should be timed appropriately. The time-out should occur at the time the offense occurred, to ensure the child relates the offense (the behavioral problem) to the time-out period. Brief time-outs are more effective than very long ones, because a long time-out enables the child to redirect attention from calming down to being resentful. The maximum time-out duration should be 1 minute for each year of age, but it may be necessary to start with much shorter time-outs. A time-out should end as soon as the child is calm. Time-outs do not have to occur in the child's room; any location where the child is removed from activity and has an opportunity to become calm will do.
The nurse is discussing the topic of nutrition with a group of caregivers of preschoolers. Which statement by the caregivers is most accurate regarding nutrition in the preschooler? a) "My child is growing so rapidly, she needs to eat three big meals a day." b) "It is important for me to give my child calcium so his muscles will grow." c) "It is hard for me to get my child to drink the 4 cups of milk he needs each day." d) "If I give snacks throughout the day, my child can meet her nutritional requirements."
"If I give snacks throughout the day, my child can meet her nutritional requirements." The preschool period is not a time of rapid growth, so children do not need large quantities of food. Protein needs are high to provide for muscle growth. Portions are smaller than adult-sized portions, so the child may need to have meals supplemented with nutritious snacks. The preschool child needs 2 to 3 cups of milk each day.
The nurse is conducting a health screening of a 5-year-old boy as required for kindergarten. The boy is fearful about going to a new school. The mother asks for the nurse's advice. Which response by the nurse is best? a) "Be aware that he may have difficulty adjusting being away from home 5 days a week." b) "Talk to your son's new teacher and schedule a tour with him." c) "Remind him that kindergarten will be a lot of fun and he'll make new friends." d) "Kindergarten is a big step for a child. Be patient with him."
"Talk to your son's new teacher and schedule a tour with him." The nurse should encourage the mother to schedule a meeting with the teacher prior to school's start date and set up a time to tour the classroom and school so the boy knows what to expect. The other statements are not helpful and do not address the mother's or boy's concerns.
Question: Place the steps for using time-out as a disciplinary measure for a 4-year-old in proper order. 1. Warn the child there will be a time-out if the behavior does not stop. 2. Parent knows the misbehavior was intentional. 3. Set a timer for no more than 4 minutes. 4. If the child gets up, replace the child and restart the time. 5. Remove the preschooler to a boring spot.
Parent knows the misbehavior was intentional. Warn the child there will be a time-out if the behavior does not stop. Remove the preschooler to a boring spot. Set a timer for no more than 4 minutes. If the child gets up, replace the child and restart the time. Time-out is an extinction method of discipline that avoids reinforcing the unacceptable behavior with attention. One minute per year of age is the appropriate length of a time-out. Five minutes is the recommended maximum length.
Nursing students are reviewing information about the cognitive development of preschoolers. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify that a 3-year-old is in what stage as identified by Piaget? a) Tertiary circular reaction b) Coordination of secondary schema c) Primary circular reaction d) Preoperational thought
Preoperational thought A 3-year-old is in the preoperational stage according to Piaget. Primary circular reaction is seen in infants of 3 months. Coordination of secondary schema is seen in infants at age 10 months. Tertiary circular reaction is seen in toddlers between 12 and 15 months.
A mother brings her 4-year-old son in for a check-up. Which of the following findings should the nurse be concerned about? a) No increase in appetite compared with that in toddler years b) Ectomorphic body type c) Weight gain of 5 lb in the past year d) Resting pulse rate of 120
Resting pulse rate of 120 Pulse rate in preschool children decreases to about 85 bpm typically, so the nurse should be concerned about a pulse rate of 120 in a 4-year-old. Contour changes in preschool children are so definite that future body type—ectomorphic (slim body build) or endomorphic (large body build)—becomes apparent. Neither of these body types is a reason for concern. During these years, appetite remains the same as it was during the toddler years, a level perhaps considerably less than some parents would like or expect. Weight gain is slight during the preschool years as the average child gains only about 4.5 lb (2 kg) a year.
The best activity that a preschooler's parents could use to help her achieve the developmental task of the preschool period is to: a) provide her with clothes that snap rather than button. b) teach her street-crossing safety. c) allow her to experiment with Play-Doh. d) help her learn how to follow rules.
allow her to experiment with Play-Doh. Preschoolers enjoy toys or material that they can manipulate (free-form play) because this helps them learn how things work.
The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old girl following an appendectomy. The girl becomes fearful and starts to cry as soon as the nurse walks into the room. When the nurse asks about the crying, the girl says, "Nurses who wear shirts with flowers give shots." The nurse understands that this statement is an example of: a) animism. b) magical thinking. c) beginning empathy. d) transduction.
transduction. The nurse identifies transduction. Because the 4-year-old recently received an injection from a nurse in a flowered uniform, the girl believes that all nurses who wear flowered uniforms give shots. Transduction is reasoning by viewing one situation as the basis for another situation even though the two may or may not be causally linked. Magical thinking involves believing that one's thoughts are all-powerful. Animism is attributing life-like characteristics to inanimate objects. Empathy is the understanding of others' feelings.
Parents of a preschooler tell the nurse that their child often refuses to go to sleep at night. Which suggestion by the nurse would be helpful? Select all that apply. a) "Set up some familiar bedtime rituals for your child." b) "Try using a night light in the child's room." c) "Keep the door closed and the lights off so that your child can fall asleep faster." d) "Try reading a favorite story before bedtime." e) "Avoid having your child watch frightening shows on TV before bedtime."
• "Try using a night light in the child's room." • "Avoid having your child watch frightening shows on TV before bedtime." • "Try reading a favorite story before bedtime." • "Set up some familiar bedtime rituals for your child." Preschoolers may refuse to go to sleep because of fear of the dark. A night light, screening out frightening stories or TV shows, and using familiar bedtime routines, including reading a favorite story, can help. Keeping the door closed and the lights off would only help to promote the child's fear.
The nurse realizes that the 5-year-old's growth chart and BMI indicate the child is at risk for obesity. What other findings reinforce this risk? Select all that apply. a) Expectations to eat everything on plate b) Television on during meals c) A father who is overweight d) Mealtimes organized and regular e) Food used as reward or punishment f) Fast food eaten once a month
• Food used as reward or punishment • Expectations to eat everything on plate • A father who is overweight • Television on during meals Overweight parents, food used as reward or punishment, TV viewing during meals, and the "clean plate club" all are factors that contribute to weight gain. The frequency the family eats fast food is not excessive. Regular, structured meals result in less snacking and more nutritious meals. Family eating together is bonding
Parents ask for disciplinary guidance for their 4-year-old. The nurse suggests which of these actions? Select all that apply. a) When discussing improper behavior, call the behavior "bad" or "naughty," not the child. b) Anticipate situations likely to cause misbehavior and redirect the child to another activity. c) A time-out of about 8 minutes would be appropriate for intentional misbehavior. d) Spank with an open hand only and never with an object. e) Books and stories can help preschoolers master proper behavior.
• When discussing improper behavior, call the behavior "bad" or "naughty," not the child. • Anticipate situations likely to cause misbehavior and redirect the child to another activity. • Books and stories can help preschoolers master proper behavior. Spanking is the least effective discipline and discouraged by pediatric professionals. If chosen by parents, it should be infrequent and done only with an open hand. Labeling behavior and not the child supports self-esteem. One minute per year of age is an appropriate length for time-outs. Redirecting from events that tend to lead to misbehavior is wise and reduces conflict. Preschoolers can learn much from stories and books including appropriate behavior.
