Child Development Milestones: 4 Years Old
At four years old, your child is lively, sociable and inquisitive, but can also be emptionally unpredictable. The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) General Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Service shares coping strategies for parents.
At four years old
, your child is inquisitive, lively and sociable, but can also be emptionally unpredictable at times.
Child development milestones: 4 years old
The Frustrating 4s
- Your child can hop and stand on one foot for up to five seconds. Your child is able to kick a ball forward, and catch a bouncing ball most of the time.Your child can also throw a ball overhand with coordination
- Your child can build a tower by stacking up to 10 cubes. Your child can draw circles and squares, and draws a person consisting of two to four body parts. Your child is capable of using a scissors, and starts to copy some capital letters
- At this age, your child has a vocabulary of over 1,000 words, and can easily compose sentences consisting four or five words
- Your child understands the concept of counting at this stage, and may know a few numbers
- Your child is capable of following three-part commands
- Your child can recall parts of a story he or she heard
- Your child understands the concepts of “same” and “different”
- Your child starts to arguee with other children, and plans games co-operatively.
- Your child can dress and undress with assistance, and able to attend to his or her own toilet needs
- Your child is
inquisitive: This is the age of many questions. Even when answers are given, your child continues to ask "Why?"
- Your child is
talkative: Because of your child's increasing capacity for language, children at this age tend to speak constantly
- Your child is
emotionally unpredictable: At four years old, children can and often burst into laughter and tears at the same time! There are also sudden bouts of anger but tempers are over quickly
- Your child is
lively and sociable: Your child is full of energy and life, they enjoy being with people now!
- Your child possesses a
high motor drive: Your child's need for muscular movement drives him or her to constantly engage in activities
Tips for handling 'Frustrating Fours'
- Encourage your child to ask questions. If you don't have the answer to your child's question, find out the answer together with your child by looking it up on the Internet, in an encyclopedia, or visiting the local library etc
- Promote plenty of large motor skill activities to your child. Allow your child to climb, swing, ride a bicycle, jump etc. However, be sure to take safety precautions
- Talk to your child and read to your child. Build your child's vocabulary skills by letting him or her to take part in conversations
- Give opportunities to your child to have social activities. Let him or her invite friends home for a gathering while you supervise
Because #healthiswealth #healthforgood
Ref: M19
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Contributor(s):
General Paediatrics Service
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