Karla's Preaching Pages

From Karla to all Parents

KARLA'S PREACHING PAGE

A parent recently expressed her concern for the behavior that her four year old was exhibiting.

This child suddenly showed aggression toward peers and had never acted this way before.

While I wish to concur with the need for awareness, I also wish to assure her that this behavior is quite normal.

Four year olds are notorious for behaving in a way that makes any sane person believe their goal is to end up at San Quentin or be the least popular child at school.

It was not so long ago that a Mom stumbled into my office overtaken with horror because her precious little boy had just threatened her with" pulling out her eyes and throwing them on the hill".

This child is one of the sweetest children at our school and I had the task of explaining to her that he is not a terrorist in training.

This behavior baffles us all, every year and we have just learned to reassure the child that this will never happen, that we will keep him/her safe and not allow him to hurt anyone or be hurt by anyone else.

This is also the time that these thoughts are accompanied by scary dreams. Your child is entering a new faze of development and is seeking a newly developed sense of power. Our job as parents and educators is to stay on our rock and with no panic, but also without hesitation, reassure the child that we remain in charge. If ever your child needs to rely on you it is now so that with your loving arms around him/her you can and will bring him/her to the next level.