About Your Early Years Child

Social & Emotional Development

Your child has started to spend more time with others: friends, classmates, teachers, community leaders, coaches, and the list goes on. How do you monitor every conversation and interaction? You don't. It is impossible to know everything your child says and does when he is away from you. But you can ask him about his day and his activities.

When you talk to your early years child, try to talk about specific events from his day rather than just asking how his day was overall. Ask him who he played with and what games he played, what lessons he worked on in math, or who his friends are in school or child care. You should also be able to speak to the other adults in your child's life to know what he is like at school, clubs or child care.

Remember if you ask your child a question and he responds, your reaction to his answer should be supportive and positive. If you respond in a negative way he will be less likely to speak to you about that topic in the future. Communicating with your child every day about his activities is an important part of your relationship, especially as he gets older.

Let your child know that he can speak to you about anything at any time. Leave the communication door wide open so he knows he has your support and love, no matter what.

As our children spend more time with friends or in the community they are going to be exposed to things we wish they hadn't been exposed to. You also can't control this completely, but a great way to deal with some of these issues is to talk about them.

If your nine-year-old daughter comes home asking for a cell phone and you do not want her to have a cell phone, explain this to her. Communication isn't magic – it will not turn her into an agreeable person simply because you have explained why she won't get a cell phone now, but it will give her reasons so she can understand your decision.

Children at this age should also be involved in some decision-making processes with their parents – what vegetable to have with supper, what board game to play, or even what the consequences should be for not listening. This will give them a sense of control and responsibility over their lives without going overboard and giving them too much control.

• Importance of Play
• Making Friends
• Starting School
• Education – Getting Ready
  This fact sheet provides parents with helpful hints on how to prepare their child with disabilities to start school.
• Education – Home/School Connection
  This fact sheet provides information on how you can support your child with disabilities to continue their learning at home.
• Getting Your Child to School When He Refuses to Go: Video
• Helping Children Cope with Anxiety & Panic
• Managing Aggressive Behaviours
• Temperament: Understanding your child's temperament
• Attachment Network of Manitoba
• For Parents of a Child with a Disability
  This fact sheet provides information to parents on practical things they can do to support their children with disabilities.
• Services and Programs for Children
  Click this link for information on specialized services and programs for children with disabilities.
• Valentine's Day

Managing Gift Expectations

• Post Holiday Debt
• Avoiding Debt during the Holiday Season
• Gift Cards and Prepaid Credit Cards
• ManitobaParentZone.ca on Managing Gift Expectations this Holiday Season
• ManitobaParentZone.ca on Managing Holiday Stress: Keeping the Season Festive and Fun
• Winnipeg Harvest Food Bank
• Salvation Army Fill the Kettle Christmas Campaign
• Winnipeg Christmas Cheer Board
• Family Financial Planning at Christmas