Around three years old, a child really starts to understand that they are a unique individual, something referred to as self-concept. What does this mean for your young child? How does she see herself? At this age, most of what your child understands about herself is descriptive. She may tell you her name, age, gender, likes and dislikes, family role, and things of that nature. She may also tell you about her possessions, saying things like, “I have a red truck. I have a blue one, too. And a purple dinosaur!” As she moves through this stage, she will begin to consider her self-worth and self-esteem, that is, how she feels about her different characteristics.

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

Play Tips:

How can you support your child’s development of this Self-Concept skill at this age? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Celebrate your child’s unique characteristics. Celebrating your child’s differences helps reaffirm that differences are what make us unique. For example, let her select her own birthday party theme, even if it’s different from what other children do for their birthday parties. Not everyone has to have a pirate party or a princess ball!
2. “What will you wear today?” Allow your child to begin picking out her own clothes. This process is often overwhelming to young children, so start by giving her just a few choices (e.g. three shirts, three pants, 2 pairs of shoes) and let her select the final outfit.
3. Teach your child about her emotions. Find ways to use descriptive language for feelings, such as “happiness,” “anger,” “disappointment,” and “jealousy.” Books are an excellent way for children to learn about these feelings by observing different scenarios and relating to the characters.
4. Acknowledge your child’s emotions. Although it can be difficult for a parent to see their child experience difficult emotions such as pain, disappointment, and sadness, they are normal and important parts of healthy development. Rather than shielding your child from these thoughts and feelings, help her recognize her emotions, understand the events that triggered them, and find ways to transform the painful emotions into more pleasant ones.

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following  Self-Concept developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

• Views self as a unique person with own thoughts and feelings
• Talks about what she likes and dislikes

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Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee

Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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