A year old is social, busy, energetic, talkative and curious.

They are developing additional skills at a fast pace.

They will be eager to proudly show you their mastery at skills and accomplishments. Constantly pushing the boundaries and testing their environment is a prime focus of a 4 year old.

As they developed confidence they may appear as ‘bossy’ in order to have things be their way…they feel the need to be in charge.

A 4 year old finds everyone (and everything) fascinating. They will be very interested in both babies and adults.

Friends are becoming more important to the 4 year old.

As they develop confidence they need reminding of safety such as holding the rail, holding hands when crossing the road, etc.

Behaviour may be something that you feel they may be pushing your buttons on.

This is normal, and not intentional to be difficult or challenging.

They are making sense of their world and where they fit, and with the added confidence and mastery of skills they have a renewed sense of their role and whilst we may feel their behaviour is questionable or unacceptable it is their way of learning.

It is important to be fair and discipline accordingly….a key phrase is pick you battles and another is make the punishment fit the crime.

This is paramount in this age group to foster their independence and confidence whilst providing them with an understanding of right and wrong and what is acceptable and not.

At this age this is the prime time for them to gain this understanding.

A 4 year old can

  • Attempts and perhaps masters skipping.
  • Walk heel-to-toe.
  • Hit ball with a bat.
  • Balance along a narrow line.
  • Walk on tiptoe.
  • Attempt to draw a cross and circle and draw a person.
  • Developed cutting skills.
  • Can do a medium degree puzzle.
  • Builds a tower of blocks 9 or more high.
  • Aware writing has meaning.
  • Associates letters with objects or people.
  • Able to recognize own name in print.
  • Speaks more clearly.
  • Speaks in sentences of 4 or 5 words.
  • Has a vocabulary of around 1000 words.
  • Asks more complex questions.
  • May be rude in their delivery or their questioning.
  • Can carry out 3 commands.
  • Mathematical concepts emerging.
  • Completes task.
  • Can count to at least 10.
  • Can name at least 4 colours.
  • Completes complex drawings. The drawing will contain essential elements such as eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet, etc.
  • Can complete complex puzzles.
  • Tries to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
  • Understands about concepts and everyday things such as time, food, etc.