Energetic, Unfocused and Self: Preschool Kids (page 2)

What You Need to Know

Teachers should understand what behaviors should and should not be expected in the classroom for children ages three to five. There will be certain activities they can do well; there will be others that are not appropriate for this age group.

• Children at this age have limited attention spans and may have difficulty if they are asked to sit and listen.
• They have a lot of energy and need to be allowed to be active.
• Children need transitions, such as a song or a signal to help them move from one activity to the next.
• Three year olds are able to follow one-step directions and four to five year olds can handle two-step directions.
• At this age, children need to learn how to work cooperatively with other children.

How You Can Help

While this information applies to a classroom setting, much of it can be adapted for use at home and on family outings. 

• Understand the behaviors your child is capable of. A young child shouldn’t be expected to sit still for very long. If you need your child to stay in one spot, bring the activities to him/her. If you’re headed to a restaurant, pack the bag full of toys and games your child likes to play with. Bring a few snacks and something to color. Space out these treats and activities so you’ll have some while you’re waiting for the meal and some for when the meal is over.
• Consistent routines help children to feel secure and anticipate what is next. You can use fun transitions to help move on to the next activity. Sing a special song when it’s time to clean up or when it’s bath time. Make a timer ding when dinner is ready. Dance your way upstairs when it’s time to get ready for bed. 

For more on this topic, see the complete article:

http://www.education.com/reference/article/behavioral-expectations-preschool-classroom/