Preschool

Check out the Super Dads Super Kids game.

It is loaded with fun activities for dads with kids of any age to do together. Register with us to be able to access this cool resource.

The Canadian Father Involvement Initiative can support programs and agencies working with dads. Our focus is on promoting father-friendly practice across the board. Check out the "training" page for more details.

Hey Dad,

Are you looking for some fathering resources and ideas? FII-ON has some booklets that you might be interested in.

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The Best Job on the Planet

Car Seat Safety

We are starting off the new year thinking about safety. We welcome guest author, Mohammad Bhorat, as he shares some great tips on safely installing a car seat. (read more)

Fathers in Blended Families Take It "One Step at a Time"

Any father might wonder at times about what role he should play in his family. Fathers in blended families probably have even more questions because they have more than one family to influence. Here are some thoughts for step dads . . . (read more)

CFII Video

There is nothing like the good, strong hug of a 4 year old. They are now at the age where they can express themselves emotionally and show a new kind of connection with you. This is where you begin to see some of the hard work in those early years pay off.

There are many changes happening for the preschooler. They are changing emotionally, cognitively, and socially. These little people are eager to explore the world around them and to experience things for themselves - taste, touch, see, and hear. They learn from doing things for themselves and through play. This means preschoolers tend to be more independent than toddlers. Their control of language has increased and they are able to control themselves more effectively.

But with this exploration sometimes comes fear. At times these children may show fear of being separated from parents, adapting to new situations, trying new activities. Other times they may jump into new experiences with courage and risk. This also comes from preschoolers learning to separate fantasy from reality. They are unable to do this well at this point. This is why it is important to monitor TV usage at this age. What they see and hear on TV is often seen as real to them.

Here are some highlights of what preschoolers are able to do or learning to do:

sharing is still a chore for them, though it is usually easier than a few months ago (toddler time)
able to cut a straight line with scissors
enjoy dramatic play
emotions may be extreme, but not last long
have active imaginations and may have an imaginary friend
can be aggressive and bossy, but also want friends around
enjoy pretending to be important adults - parent, doctor, police, etc.
can be very talkative
ask lots of "why" questions

Some things that dads can do to connect with and support preschoolers:

read to them often and make up stories
let them take some risks - in a safe environment
play with them - get down to their level
spend time with their friends - help everyone have a good time
talk with them a lot - do lots of listening
be patient with preschoolers who are testing their boundaries and abilities
keep clear and simple rules for preschoolers to follow
play cooperative games to help them learn to share and get along with others
do sorting and mixing activities (blocks, paints, puzzles, etc)
keep them active - get outside whenever possible
play simple board games
get them involved in household chores
answer their questions openly and honestly