Radio Commentary
Concepts of trust and danger, which
are virtually meaningless to a two-year-old, make perfect sense to older
children.
It is critical that parents use
safety instructions that are appropriate to a child’s age if they want them to
be followed.
For example, two-year-olds respond
to rules and are old enough to know that certain actions bring their parents’
disapproval. Express strong disapproval if a child wanders away at the mall.
Two is also a good age at which to plant the idea that some actions require
permission.
Three-year-olds begin to understand
the concept of trust. Tell them exactly whom they can turn to for specific
kinds of help — the babysitter, a neighbor, etc.
Four-year-olds are risk-takers, so
this is an important time to reinforce safety rules and step up supervision.
Children at this age can begin to understand that not every person they meet is
trustworthy.
At five, children start school and
interact with many new people, including older children who could be
intimidating or unkind. It’s a good time for parents to reinforce positive
perceptions of people.
By six, most children have begun to
develop intuition. This is the time to encourage them to trust their own
instincts: If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Using age appropriate instructions
significantly increases the likelihood that your instructions will be followed.
