The Fourth Year
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 4th year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.
By 4 years of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- feed herself (with little spilling)
- try to use a fork
- hold a pencil
- try to write name
- draw with the arm and not small hand movements
- draw a circle
- draw a face
- try to cut paper with blunt scissors
- sometimes unbutton buttons
- try to buckle, button, and lace, even though she probably needs help
- completely undress herself if wearing clothes with simple fasteners
- brush teeth with help
- build a tower of 7-9 blocks
- put together a simple puzzle of 4-12 pieces
- pour from a small pitcher
- use the toilet alone
- try to skip
- catch a bouncing ball
- walk downstairs using a handrail and alternating feet
- swing, starting by himself and keeping himself going
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- recognize red, yellow, and blue
- understand taking turns and can do so without always being reminded
- understand “big,” “little,” “tall,” “short”
- want to know what will happen next
- sort by shape or color
- count up to 5 objects
- follow three instructions given at one time (“Put the toys away, wash your hands, and come eat.”)
- distinguish between the real world and the imaginary or pretend world
- identify situations that would lead to happiness, sadness, or anger
Language and Social Skills
- have a large vocabulary and use good grammar often
- often talk about action in conversation (“go,” “do,” “make”)
- enjoy rhyming and nonsense words
- use regular past tenses of verbs (“pulled,” “walked”)
- use “a,” “an,” and “the” when speaking
- ask direct questions (“May I?” “Would you?”)
- want explanations of “why” and “how”
- relate a simple experience she has had recently
- understand “next to”
- separate from his parent for a short time without crying
- help clean up toys at home or school when asked to
- like to play “dress up”
- pretend to play with imaginary objects
- act out elaborate events which tell a story (as in serving an imaginary dinner or going on a “dragon hunt”)
- sometimes cooperate with other children
- often prefer playing with other children to playing alone, unless deeply involved in a solitary task
- change the rules of a game as he goes along
- try to bargain (“I’ll give you this toy if you’ll give me that one”)
- share when asked
- enjoy tag, hide-and-seek and other games with simple rules
- like moderate “rough and tumble” play
- like to do things for himself
- know her age and the town where she lives
- act as though a doll or stuffed animal thinks and feels on its own