Skills Your Child Should Have by Age Four
By the time a child turns four, they are smooth-talking, agile, and observant seekers of adventure. They are kind of know-it-alls—as in they want to know it all. They have more questions than you have answers, and they should be challenged.
What can you expect from your child?
- Pretending to play "mom" and "dad"
- Cooperating with other children
- Talking about their likes and interests
- Telling and retelling stories that are familiar to them
- Saying their first and last name
- Singing a song or reciting a poem from memory, such as “The Wheels on the Bus”
- Drawing a person with 2-4 body parts (head, body, arms or legs)
- Using scissors. Your child may not use them correctly, but they understand that the scissors need to open and close in order to cut something.
- Understanding the idea of counting and can count to 10
- Hopping or standing on one foot for up to two seconds
- Catching a bounced ball most of the time
- Pouring, cutting (with supervision), and mashing their own food
- Caring for their own toileting (going to the restroom, wiping, and washing hands)
What can you do to help your child learn and grow?
- Acknowledge your child's feelings, but be firm in the rules you set.
- Reinforce positive actions and interactions, such as playing nicely with a friend.
- Encourage new words and pronunciations through play.
- Practice numbers and letters, such as teaching them a poem to recite.
- Encourage play with other children.
- Avoid labeling your child, such as shy or aggressive, especially in front of them. You do not want them to feel as though their actions are wrong and make them a bad person.
- Allow your child to learn self-help skills, such as serving their own food and drinks and feeding themselves.
- Model appropriate behaviors through pretend play.