Fabulous Fournados

Raising a four-year-old is an interesting period.

Both parents and their fabulous fournado struggle with whether to engage the latter as a baby or not. 

This is where we hear four-year-olds saying to parents and caregivers that they can do one thing or the other by themselves.

They are so fierce at trying things out that the outcome of their assertion always betrays them.

They are not labelled as fournados for nothing. Their likes and dislikes can switch quickly like a tornado.

Though they may show up to have their own fears of certain objects, they also turn out to be so chatty and overly friendly sometimes.

They want to tell everyone about everything, and have no emotional restraints.

This can be embarrassing sometimes when they freely drop highly classified information in undesired areas. 

Age

At this age, children love to imitate the adults around them a lot.

They mimic their words, actions and behaviours so well that, this makes them adorable.

Through imitation they learn a lot including social skills and develop their language and communication skills better. 

This is how they learn to explore their own identity whilst learning about roles and responsibilities through pretend play.

They will repeat phrases they have heard and they will mimic gestures and body language. 

Children at this age are unable to make much differentiation between positive and negative behaviour they witness.

That is why adults around them must model behaviour worth emulating, and they must create a supportive environment for positive growth and development.

They should be protected from all forms of incivility whether among parents or on television. 

Fournados

They derive the name fournados from the fact that as they begin to explore their emotions, tantrums can be a common way of expressing themselves.

They are learning to regulate their emotions and to manage their disappointments and frustrations. 

Their behaviour can, therefore, be challenging sometimes, requiring that the adults in their lives guide them patiently, but firmly so that they can understand themselves and others.

Their tantrums are triggered by tiredness, hunger or lack of enough sleep.

They may be tired of restrictions or may be genuinely having difficulties in expressing themselves. 

They end up pushing boundaries — something that many adults consider to be challenging behaviour.

Their feelings should be validated whilst teaching them the importance of boundaries and rules. 

They must be helped with emotional vocabulary so that they can put words to their emotions.

They grow in their empathy and compassion as they observe their parents and caregivers extend same to them and others. 

Opportunities

Fournados find themselves in the middle of many opportunities that can be used as a learning curve to develop their emotional skills.

Insisting they follow routines is the best for them in aiding their development of self-control. 

Like tornadoes, they are energetic and dynamic.

Therefore, they should be exposed to a variety of play stuff.

Their energy should be channelled positively by keeping them exercising or keeping fit routinely. 

Fournados who therefore become addicted to screens end up losing a lot of learning opportunities in all spheres of their lives.

No wonder the funny quote says: “Whatever you do today, do it with the confidence of a four-year-old…wearing a Batman cape.” 

The writer is a Child Development Expert/ Fellow at Zero-to-three Academy, USA.

E-mail: nanaesi_19@yahoo.co.uk