What’s going on right now
Four year olds run on pure energy and growing independence. Your child wants to do more things “myself,” negotiate about basically everything, and test which rules are really rules. Imaginative play gets more elaborate too, often with invented rules that change mid game, which is a normal part of this stage, not a sign your child can’t follow rules.
Emotional swings are still common, but you’ll likely notice more self control than last year, especially with practice naming feelings out loud. Preschool routines help build the cooperation and listening skills your child will lean on in kindergarten.
Milestones you may see
- Hopping and briefly balancing on one foot
- Drawing a person with several body parts
- Telling simple stories with a beginning and an end
- Counting to ten and naming several colors
- Following instructions with two or three steps
- Playing cooperatively with rules, at least some of the time
Feeding, sleep and screen time
This is a great age to get kids involved in simple food prep, like rinsing vegetables or stirring batter, which tends to make them more willing to try what they helped make. Four year olds typically need 10 to 13 hours of sleep, and most have dropped naps by now or are close to it. For screens, stick with high quality, age appropriate shows, watch together when you can, and build in plenty of screen free time for active play.
Keeping your child safe
Most four year olds are forward facing with a harness now, and current AAP guidance recommends staying harnessed at least to age four and longer if the seat allows. This is also a good age to start simple, age appropriate conversations about body safety, like which parts of their body are private and that they can always tell you if something feels wrong. Keep reinforcing pedestrian and parking lot safety too.