Preschooler Attitude Adjustments

Your child's a little devil at home but a total angel at preschool. What do teachers know that you don't? We asked preschool teachers for their best tactics -- and for ways you can adopt them at home.

By Rachel Morris

Shannon Greer

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Class Act

If your preschooler got a report card, she'd likely be a straight-A student. Her teacher says she's helpful, attentive, and kind to her buddies. But around you, she turns into someone the school wouldn't recognize: cranky, argumentative, and needy. How can your child be so sweet during class and so sour the minute she gets home?

The short answer: The group dynamic of school encourages young kids to fall in line with their peers and try to please their teachers. They can only maintain this model behavior for a few hours, though. "Kids need to let loose when they leave the classroom," says Jennifer Zebooker, a teacher at the 92nd Street Y Nursery School, in New York City. "It's natural for them to push the boundaries with Mommy."

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Comments (8)

jmc911991 wrote:

I was told that if your child behaves great around others but acts up at home you've done a good job. The reason behind this is that the child has learned proper behavior and will show that to others, but they feel comfortable enough around you to let out steam and act out. Not sure how true it is but I like this theory as this is how my kids are!! Check out: www.myrealbirthstory.com Submit your story to be publishe!!

3/8/2011 08:46:47 PM Report Abuse

diwan.meenakshi wrote:

how can u discipline the child with adhd, the eating habits, studies, ..etc

4/18/2010 02:41:19 AM Report Abuse

kerry1212 wrote:

A developmental checklist for a typical 2-3 year old is identical to a behavioral checklist for an older child with ADD or ADHD. Please make sure you get more than one opinion before diagnosing a toddler with anything. Get opinions from different teacher, doctor, specialist, and your own research. Then use least restrictive therapy before resorting to medicine, etc.

2/2/2010 04:12:02 PM Report Abuse

ejohns5 wrote:

It would be great if we would not assume that a child is ADD/ ADHD due to their inattentiveness as a preschooler. Sometimes children have less mature neurological systems and may not be ready to attend to the things we are asking them to do at a certain developmental level. I agree that some children appear to have ADD/ ADHD but development does come to children at different times particularly for preschoolers.

2/2/2010 10:04:29 AM Report Abuse

j-capaldi wrote:

Encouragement and praise go farther than you think. Give it a try.

1/31/2010 10:20:33 PM Report Abuse