{"id":35017,"date":"2015-07-25T05:00:43","date_gmt":"2015-07-25T12:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.mainelyseo.com\/cdi-upgrade\/?p=35017"},"modified":"2019-07-23T16:53:16","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T23:53:16","slug":"moving-onwards-your-four-year-olds-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childdevelopmentinfo.com\/development\/moving-onwards-your-four-year-olds-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving Onwards – Your Four-Year-Old’s Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"four_years_old_fb\" <\/picture><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Your child is four-years-old, and it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll be looking ahead to enrolling him in school soon. There is a nagging worry that can trouble many parents: how do you know if your child is at the right level and has the skills he needs to fit in at school? How can you make sure he won\u2019t be trailing behind his classmates? Here\u2019s how you can ensure your child doesn\u2019t struggle and has a peaceful transition<\/a> into formal education.<\/p>\n

Your four-year-old will be confident in his gross motor skills. He\u2019ll be able to climb stairs like an adult, walk in a straight line, hop on one foot, and climb ladders or trees. It\u2019s likely he\u2019ll be better at ball games and be able to throw and catch with more accuracy than just a year ago. Allowing your child to continue practicing these skills is essential since physical activity will help him develop more than just physical coordination\u2014it will help him improve his social and cognitive skills as he learns to play<\/a> with others. He will also build his thought processes in terms of spatial awareness, judgment, risk assessment, and planning.<\/p>\n

A four-year-old’s fine motor skills will also be coming along at speed. By now, he\u2019ll be able to build a tower of ten or more blocks, construct more creative buildings, and will start to understand concepts such as balance and stability. He\u2019ll have a mature pincer grip when holding a pencil, his pictures will become more recognizable and realistic, and he\u2019ll be getting better at coloring within the lines.<\/p>\n

He’ll be more comfortable with zips and buttons and may be able to dress without help. He\u2019ll be proficient using a spoon or fork but may be less dexterous when using a knife to cut his food. It\u2019s important to encourage your child to be as independent as possible when eating and dressing. He\u2019ll be better at doing jigsaws, and able to associate shapes and colors with the gaps in the puzzle.<\/p>\n

At this age<\/a>, any construction toys and materials for creative activities such as paints or crayons will help him to develop his fine motor skills as well as give him a creative outlet\u2014an important cognitive ability.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely your child will still love snuggling up for a story and will be following the words and pictures with his eyes. He may even be able to recognize letters or numbers. He will be able to name more colors correctly. Now is an excellent time to play games such as “I Spy” with colors, rhyming songs with numbers or letters, or any games that involve him identifying different objects. This will help your child learn the basic counting and alphabet he\u2019ll need when he starts school and improve his vocabulary.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s vital<\/a> that your child has the opportunity to play with other children\u2014this will give him the social skills he needs to make friends when he starts school as well as teach him the concepts of sharing, taking turns, and winning and losing. He\u2019ll need these skills throughout his life.<\/p>\n

This is perhaps the last opportunity you have as a parent to make sure your child has the skills and confidence to start school. A child who is comfortable in his new environment will be happier and do better than one who is struggling with a huge learning curve. As a parent, you\u2019re well placed to support your child and give him the best start possible.<\/p>\n