Growth Stages - 4 Years

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Development and Behavior:

Your child should now be playing more often with other children in the neighborhood. It is important that you encourage these playtime activities. They help your child learn some of the important rules about social interaction which will help him or her later in school. This will also help your child learn to cope with your absence when you need to leave him alone at school or in day care.

Since your children are starting to explore the neighborhood, be sure they know their name, address and telephone number and how to get help in case they get lost.

Diet:

* Eating habits are started at an early age. Make sure your child learns only good eating habits:
o Offer three nutritious meals a day.
o Offer fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks. Avoid using sweets and candy as snacks.
o Don't let your children eat just because they are bored.
o Don't let them get into the "Fast Food Habit."

Safety Tips:

• Remember that your child is still too young to have good judgment. You must teach your child what is and what is not safe.
• Teach your child to pick up toys when done playing.
• Teach your child not to run in the house.
• Keep matches, lighters and flammable liquids out of your child's reach.
• Keep cords wrapped up and tucked away so your child cannot pull them.
• Never leave a hot appliance, such as a clothing iron or curling iron, out if you are not in the room. It only takes a split second for your child to be burned badly.
• Do not give your child anything that shoots. BB guns and pellet guns are not toys.
• Keep your child's play area free of sharp or dangerous objects, such as garden tools. If you have a clothes line in the yard, make sure it is too high for your child to reach.
• Teach your child never to run into the street. If a ball or toy rolls into the street, teach your child to come and get you.
• Start teaching your child how to properly cross the street. How to watch the traffic light, and how to watch for cars.
• Teach your child to ride his or her tricycle on the sidewalk, not in the street or even on a driveway.
• Always buckle up your child when driving. Teach him or her to always buckle up when in a friend's car.

Note to health care providers:

You are free to use these materials for your patients, provided you include the following:

This patient education handout provided courtesy of
the University of Kansas Pediatrics Department.
Copyright 2001-2006 KU Pediatrics Department. All rights reserved.