Skills for four year olds

     Are you just wondering where the time is flying to?? Your little baby will be starting Kindergarten in a year. Are you looking back and seeing all of the growth your child has made and everything he/she can do. It’s just amazing how fast they grow up, not to mention all the skills they have acquired. It amazes me how fast they catch on to things. Most parents will send their child to preschool when they are four years old because they get so bored at home or daycare. They are usually ready to move on to something more challenging. Preschool helps get them ready for Kindergarten and gives them the chance to begin interacting with kids their own age. By this age, your child should be able to interact with kids and start the process of solving their own problems, and be able to play with each other for a longer amount of time. They are able to speak more clearly and bring more complex words into a clear sentence. They will actually be able to have a more grown up conversation with family members or their friends. 

      Your four year old is just getting to the point that they are able to learn things and remember how to do it. They should know all of their colors, shapes, etc.  They should be able to draw each shape if you ask them to.  It’s the time when they are beginning the process of reading small, beginner books out loud. Don’t worry some kids will catch on to the reading part faster than others. It all takes time and it’s a good idea to practice with them every day so they learn how to bring the sounds of words together. If they are simple books they might be able to say what happens in the book.
     At this age, they are able to write their name without any help and able to read it. Also, even writing simple sentences by themselves, because they are sounding the words out and putting it together. Counting is another thing that they are able to do, they may be able to count without any mistakes to roughly 100.  

      At this stage, they can understand a long strand of directions that are given to them. Such as: get ready for bed, brush your teeth, then go get in bed. They are able to comprehend what you are saying and follow directions. You’ll notice at home that they think they are such a big kid now that they can pick their own outfits out for the day and even get themselves dressed by themselves. They are able to get themselves undressed at night and ready for bed.  They also can brush their teeth by themselves.

     As a parent, you’ll see a world of different changes from the age three to four that your child has developed. It’s just so surprising how much they can do and how independent they have become. Let them show their independence, as this is their way of growing up and developing into a wonderful little person.