WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD?
Four-year-olds are clumsy, can't seem to sit still, need lots of running, jumping and climbing and are often afraid or have nightmares. If this sounds like your little one, don't worry. It's all very typical behavior. But the good news is four-year-olds are friendly, love parallel playing with friends, like "helping", love being read to and love to play and explore like with dress-up. And don't be shocked if your four-something seems to like bathroom talk, swear words and long explanations. They love language and need adult help finding words to express their needs or give them advice. So playing with and enjoying your pre-schooler can be great fun if you know the limitations of what they can physically and mentally do at this age. What do they love when they're playing with you at home? Try music, drama, dance... anything with a repeating pattern. Let them help you get snacks, set the table or fold clothes. Use finger paints or give them a scribble pad and pretend you're reading what they wrote. Stand-up easels let them feel like they're teaching you! And try shared reading with them: you read one page of a familiar book, then they "read" or tell you what happens on the next page.
If your child is in a preschool classroom, most teachers will know what is age-appropriate. But if you're shopping for schools, or wondering if all kids this age have jagged handwriting - again here's a description of what's typical. Four-year-olds are not ready for close-up work like reading and writing. If they do try to write, they use their whole hand to grab the pencil and find it awkward to do handcrafts. They learn better with large muscle movements, like moving big blocks, tumbling, climbing on a playground. Four-year-olds are also very observant. So in the classroom objects are often labeled to familiarize them with letters and words. They love scoops, measuring cups for sand, puzzles, pulleys and magnets. They learn to count by taking attendance or adding how many kids are buying milk that day.
As for emotional behavior, the good news here is that four-year-olds are easily redirected when they're being inappropriate. Adults should tell them to "use their words" not physical force to see if another child is finished with a toy or wants to play with them. Something as simple as telling a four-year-old "It's the rule" when you want to change their behavior seems to work. And they will mimic the way grown-ups are behaving. If your preschooler is running down the steps, instead of just yelling out "don't run! Stop," you should also add "let's go down the stairs safely. Watch how I do it."
Their favorite themes are dinosaurs, cars/trucks/trains/planes, houses and anything about them.
Enjoy this time with your little one! They're very loving, anxious to please you and have non-stop energy!
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