E527 | Absorbing and Unfiltered: Leading Preschoolers by Example

Join us this week in the Good Dads studio as founder and director Dr. Jennifer Baker and J Fotsch talk about the challenges and joys of parenting a 4- and 5-year-old children.  This period of life is marked by inquisitiveness and unfiltered honesty. It's certainly true that they say the darndest things! These youngsters are at their peak of innocence, but they're also very in tune with potential tensions between Mom and Dad. Your kids are always watching and listening. They're absorbing what their parents say and do, so we talk about the important ways that dads can lead by example. Show Notes (1:35) By the time children are 4 and 5 years old, you can relax a little. (8:39) That's when you hear parents talking about, "Oh man, it's so hard, and I'm so tired, but it's worth it." And you're like, "Really?" And before, when I didn't have kids, I'm like, "Is it? It doesn't sound worth it." (9:09) Write down what your kids say. Write down those little moments because later on, you'll want to remember those. (11:30) Researchers were so surprised to find was that the children (starting Kindergarten) were so much more aware of what was going on in the couple's relationship than the parents thought. (13:35) Your kids' emotional health is very much tied up in how well you two (the parents) are getting along. (15:06) By four or five, your child has been observing you for four or five years. They are accustomed to the tone of your voice, the expression on your face. They have a pretty good idea of how you're going to react to certain things. They know you. (15:31) Being a girl dad, (I'm) making sure I give the example of how I treat her mom. That's how I want her to be treated when she's at the dating age ... Like when I kiss my wife in front of her and she goes, "Ew, that's gross."   Resources  Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter and never miss a podcast! The Good Dads Blog  gooddads.com  Questions or comments? Reach out to Good Dads at [email protected].