Activities to Do With 4 Year Old Children

According to the National Network for Child Care, 4-year-olds are mostly energetic and imaginative. While 4-year-olds may spend plenty time of being silly and playful, it is also an age of exploration and discovery. It is also a time when children are forming key social and emotional skills that will help them during the rest of their childhood and adult life. Playful, hands-on activities that incorporate an element of learning are best for this age.

  1. Child-Directed Play

    • Child-directed play is play that the child initiates and chooses. A parent or adult may participate, but he is following the child̵7;s lead. According to the website of childhood expert Dr. Michele Borba, since the 1970s child-directed play time has decreased by 25 percent and outdoor free time has decreased by 50 percent. On the other hand, Borba̵7;s site states that U.S. children are ̶0;plugged into̶1; a technological device (not including cell phones) seven and a half hours a day. Borba argues that this switch from free time to technology and parent-chosen time is negatively affecting children in key developmental areas including attention span, social skills and physical health.

    Reading

    • Although most children are not able to read to themselves at age 4, introducing books or reading aloud to the child creates an early interest in books and the written word. In her article, ̶0;If You̵7;d Like to Know Why Reading Matters,̶1; Barbara Friedman-De Vito states that reading aloud to children can introduce new ideas and places the child may otherwise not be expose to. De Vito argues that reading also helps children socially by enhancing their ability to express themselves verbally and pick up on social cues. To increase a 4-year-old's interest in books, LiveandLearn.com suggests allowing the child to create her own book. Engage the child̵7;s imagination by allowing the child to tell the story while the adult writes down the words and both draw pictures together.

    Hands-on Activities

    • Children at this age often need to touch, feel and play to fully understand. Abstract concepts tend to be difficult for them to fully grasp. Hands-on activities will help keep the child engaged in the activity, strengthen developmental skills, and is fun. Simple activities such as letting the child cook with an adult, build a birdhouse or measure the distance around a jack-o'-lantern are fun and educational.

    Creative Expression

    • Encouraging a child's creativity is important to help him with self-expression and confidence. It is important for the adult to really listen to what the child is wanting to create and to validate and acknowledge those desires. The child's creation will provide insight into the child's thinking and feelings. While drawing, painting and building are wonderful forms of creative expression, there are many more opportunities out there. Though they may seem young, it is not too early to introduce seemingly more advanced subjects such as photography and musical instruments.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Set Babysitting Rates
      Finding a good babysitter is difficult to do. Its so difficult that once you find one, you will want to keep her happy and fairly well paid. Some sitters will set a rate in advance, but some circumstances call for extra pay. The parent should spend s
    • How to Do Log Books for Childcare
      If you run a daycare center, properly recording a logbook can make the difference between attracting and keeping clients, or driving them away. Logbooks, especially the forms which are turned into parents on a daily or weekly basis, provide parents w
    • How Does a Nanny Spend a Workday?
      A nanny’s most important duties involve caring for your children, and her day revolves around their schedule of needs, just as yours does when you are home. Providing supervision, keeping your children busy, and creating a nurturing environment