A Preschool Behavior Survival Guide (continued)

Thankfully, typical behaviors of noncompliance in a preschooler can be easily remedied by allowing him to make simple choices. Before your child gets dressed in the mornings, lay out two outfits, and let him choose which one he wants to wear. During lunchtime your little one can decide whether he wants turkey or ham on his sandwich. Offering limited choices can give your young child the room he needs to exercise his independence without compromising his safety and your sanity. The choices you present to your child should be acceptable to you, so no matter what he chooses, everybody wins.

Routines are also great for dealing with noncompliant children as they enable youngsters to predict what’s going to happen next. And if your child understands that naptime comes shortly after lunch, he’ll be less likely to put up a fight because knowing what to expect gives him a sense of control over his life. In order for routines to be effective they have to be consistent, so once you get your child’s routine in place, avoid any unnecessary disruptions.

Don’t expect miracles when you’re tackling whining, rudeness, and refusal in your young child, as these behaviors are a normal part of preschool development, and nipping them in the bud takes time. But before long you should find that your preschooler's behavior is slowly but steadily improving.