Increased muscular, mental and language abilities set the stage for more activities and questions. There is a great curiosity and openness to learning. The favourite word of pre-schoolers is "why." Parents who take time to answer their preschoolers' questions reinforce their intellectual initiative. But parents who see their children's questions as a nuisance may stifle their initiative and cause them to be too dependent on others and to be ashamed of themselves.
Imaginative play is the basic activity of this stage. The preschooler explores and reenacts the different roles and activities of people, both real (home life) and fictional (often based on television).
Questions for reflection
Preschoolers learn through play. Play is their "work." Children who are given much freedom and opportunity to initiate imaginative and motor play have their sense of initiative reinforced. Parents who inhibit their children's imaginative play or deride them as silly may cause them to develop a sense of guilt over self-initiated activities.
The following guidelines on the adult role in children's play are taken from an ERIC Digest entitled "The Nature of Children's Play" by David Fernie.
It is also during this stage that a rudimentary conscience emerges, regulating their initiative and imagination. His behaviour is guided by concept of "right" and "wrong" as spelt out by his parents. If the parents' expectations are unrealistic or if they punish him too severely for his mistakes then he may develop an oppressive burden of guilt.
"Shame is the feeling that I am a bad person, whereas guilt is the feeling that I have done a bad thing. Shame is a negative judgment about the core self, which is devastating. In contrast, guilt is a negative judgment about an action, which can be repaired by good behaviour ... If we want our children to care about others, we need to teach them to feel guilt rather than shame when they misbehave."
Do you agree with the above? If yes, why? If not, why not?