A bit of advice

[RoB21]

Hi all,

I hope this is the right place to post this,

My name is Robert and I am 21 years old, I have been with my partner (19) for a couple of years now. She has a son who is just coming up for 3 and had him at a young age with no contact from the father after the birth. We have been very close and I am starting to feel more responsible towards her son and I want the very best for him.

I am really looking for some useful advice and things to look out for from the age 3+, I want to be making sure I am doing the right things towards his development.

Any thing is appreciated as I am clueless compared to people who have experienced it!

Many thanks!

Robert.

The very basic advice would be to be kind and consistent in how you interact with him. Listen to him and give him your full attention, and answer as many of his questions as you can about anything he wants to talk about. Read to him regularly. Make sure you and your girlfriend are being consistent in your approach to behaviour management.

Plenty of books and chatting to him will help his language development. His attention span will be minuscule so don't worry if activities with him only last a few minutes. Having plenty of opportunities to run round and explore will make him happy.

Just be interested (which it seems you are), talk to him lots, read to him, play imaginative games. And sing from the same song sheet as his mum!