One of the ways to help our preschooler learn right from wrong and to reflect on the choices they made that day, is to reflect back with them how they handled situations that came up.  For example, my 3 year old is still learning how to take turns and to communicate his wants and needs without screeching and crying.

Today at his preschool Fall Festival he desperately wanted to ride in the wagon that two other children were riding.  I watched from across the yard as he clung to the side of the wagon, hollering and screaming, urgently wanting to climb in.  The child pulling the wagon told him “no! it’s not your turn.”

Unfortunately, this message fell on deaf ears with my son and he became belligerant and more determined to get into that wagon!  I felt as if I were running in slow motion trying to gallop across the grass to get to him before matters turned ugly.  Too late.  The wagon driver pushed my ds once to get him to move away from the wagon so as not be crushed by the round rubber wheels.  My ds was not discouraged.  He grabbed the side with all his might.  The driver stopped in anger and pushed my ds as hard as he could and I saw my little guy hit the grassy hill with a thud and a very crushed spirit.

I comforted him and wiped his tears.  The wagon driver was gone.  When we returned home and after warm baths and jammies, I addressed both of my children about incidents that had happened that concerned me.  I asked my ds what he learned when other children say “no!”  He, of course, told us how he was pushed down and I agreed, that wasn’t a kind thing.  “It wasn’t your turn to ride the wagon and you wouldn’t listen to the wagon driver and he was scared you would get hurt and he didn’t know what to do.”  We talked about using words to talk with other children when we’re not happy and how sometimes we might have to walk away.

There are moral lessons to be taught every day.  Find a quiet moment to reflect and help your child sort out their feelings and thoughts about the days’ happenings.