What to expect of a four year old (1063)

The four-year-old becomes much more vocal with a vocabulary of 4,000 to 6,000 words and usually speaks in five- to six-word sentences. Children of this age like to sing simple songs and can remember and repeat finger plays and rhymes. They tell stories and speak clearly enough to be understood by non-family members. They can express emotions through facial gestures and like to copy behaviors of older children and adults.

Children this age can dress and undress without assistance. They can brush their own teeth and comb their hair. They can draw combinations of simple shapes and draw pictures of people with at least four parts as well as objects that are recognizable to adults.

At four years, children like to play with objects that have small parts. They can use scissors and will practice an activity many times to gain mastery. They now walk heel-to-toe, can run well, can tip-toe, and are learning to skip. They can stand on one foot for five seconds or more or walk down steps, alternating feet. They have developed sufficient timing so that they can jump rope or play games requiring quick reactions.

Four-year-olds demonstrate greater judgment and awareness of their own limitations and the consequences of unsafe behaviors. They still need supervision crossing a street or protecting themselves in certain activities. They exhibit increased endurance with long periods of high energy, and sometimes become overexcited and less self-regulated in group activities.

Children this age are much more social. They begin to understand taking turns and can play simple games in small groups. They begin to spontaneously offer things to others, and they want to please their friends. The four-year-old has a greater ability to control intense feelings like fear or anger. This means no more temper tantrums, and parents will see children of this age laugh a lot.

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