How do you know that your preschooler may be struggling with boundaries:

• They will test limits
• They will respond to specific praise and positive attention
• They can mimic your behaviors
• They will engage in play with you
• They can understand sharing and taking turns
• They are able to keep their bodies safe and understand body safety for themselves and others
• They will say No
• They will struggle with accepting No

Things you can do:

• Be consistent
• Offer them choices
• Make visual aids about rules to reinforce messages
• Model healthy boundary setting
• Regulate your emotional reactions to limit testing
• Learn about child development so you understand reasonable expectations about behaviors
• Try different methods to see what is best for your family
• Use positive reinforcement and praise to identify the specific prosocial behaviors they are engaging in
• Remember that limit testing is part of this age

Conversation Starters:

• “It’s important to use our words when we want something or don’t want something. Can we practice saying no? Can we practice telling each other what we want?”
• “Taking turns, sharing, and helping someone else are safe ways to show we care. Let’s practice.”
• “It is ok to say no if you don’t want a hug or a kiss from someone.”

Books for kids:

• My invisible bubble by Michelle Chan
• It’s my body by Lory Freeman
• The not so friendly friend: how to set boundaries for healthy relationships by Christina Furnival

Books for Parents:

• “I can say No” by Jenny Simmons
• “The rabbit listened” by Cori Doerrfeld
• “Rissy no kisses” by Katey Howes

To learn more add the Boundary Issue to your MASK Library for an age by age outline to teaching boundaries.

MASK the Parenting Magazine a quarterly publication providing solutions for Today’s Families.

The parenting manual offering solutions to the modern-day challenges families face. From Pre-K 

through College stay up to date on the modern day issues families face.

Are you up to date on the issues your child is facing?

MASK Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids offers parenting solutions for today’s families. MASK tackles important topics – from drugs and alcohol to bullying and Internet safety -and gives students, 

parents and the community the knowledge and tools to manage these potential challenges.

Subscribe today! https://www.tools4teaching.com/product/mask-the-magazine/

Download and share the MASKmatters app now! Made for children, parents, teachers and in Spanish.

Have solutions at your fingertips 

Available free on apple and google play links below

Apple https://apps.apple.com/us/app/maskmatters/id1482305692

Google Play 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maskmatters.maskmattersapp&hl=en_US&gl=US