Activities for a 4-Year-Old

By age 4, your child is aware of his coordination skills and he enjoys testing the limits of his newly discovered talents. He experiences great joy and endless fun climbing and jumping on and off beds, furniture and stairs, landing on one or both feet. However, a 4-year-old's sense of danger is almost nonexistent, making accidental injury a serious concern. Avoid the bumps, bruises and broken bones by channeling his limitless energy into safe activities that enhance fine and gross motor skills, intellectual development, coordination and social skills.

  1. Motor Skills Development

    • Engage your child in active play, such as jump rope, catch, beginner rollerskating, running, jumping, hopping, skipping and playing games like ̶0;Follow the Leader̶1; and tag. Teach your 4-year-old to walk while balancing something light, like a small pillow or beanbag, on her head. Puzzles are an excellent and enjoyable activity for 4-year-olds, and they promote fine motor skills development.

    Intellectual Development

    • Four-year-olds have vivid imaginations and love to play pretend. Pretend with your child that you both are going to school, the grocery store, buying new shoes or going to the doctor or dentist. Teach your child the names of flowers and plants and then ask him to name as many as he can remember. Praise him no matter how few or how many correct answers he gives. Four-year-olds are able to recognize some letters and numbers. Provide your child with crayons and paper and make a game of drawing animals, trees, flowers, houses, letters and numbers and writing his name in different colors. Play dough is an excellent medium for making things, and it provides an extra training tool for teaching your child how to form and learn the letters in his name.

    Energy Outlets

    • Four-year-olds have boundless energy, which keeps them in a state of constant motion, moving from one activity to another. Channel this energy into a variety of activities, such as riding a tricycle, running, jumping and playing tag. Help your child to burn off excess energy by allowing the screaming, shouting and general loudness that are the hallmark of 4-year-olds. Silliness is also important at this age. Have fun doing silly things together like making faces, saying made-up words, making funny sounds and laughing at them, and telling jokes, stories or poems.

    Coordination, Strength and Social Development

    • Your 4-year-old's level of coordination enables her to learn how to swim, dance and to receive instructions in martial arts or gymnastics. These activities are fun, can increase your child's physical strength and muscle coordination, and help to build social skills as your child interacts with others in her class or group.

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