Child developmental Milestones Preschoolers Four Years

GROWTH AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• gains approximately 4 to 5 pounds per year; weighs an average of 32 to 40 pounds
• grows 2 to 2.5 inches in height per year; is approximately 40 to 45 inches tall
• heart rate (pulse) averages 90-110 beats per minute
• respiratory rate ranges from 20-30 varying with activity and emotional level
• blood pressure remains at 84/60
• requires approximately 1700 calories daily
• hearing acuity can be assessed by child’s correct usage of sounds and language
• visual acuity is 20/30 as measured on the Snellen E chart
• grow into slimmer, straighter children
• all primary teeth have come through
• height and weight should grow together
• arms, trunk and legs lengthen
• legs grow faster than the rest of the body
• bones become denser
• well controlled muscles help him energetically climb, jump, hop, skip and ride a tricycle
• talks incessantly

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

• walks on a straight line
• hops on one foot
• pedals and steers a tricycle or wheeled toy with confidence and skill; turns corners, avoids obstacles
• climbs ladder, steps, trees, playground equipment
• jumps over obstacles five or six inches high or from a step; lands with both feet together
• runs, starts, stops and moves around obstacles with ease
• reproduces some shapes and letters
• holds a crayon or marker using a tripod grasp
• points and draws with deliberateness
• crosses legs when sitting on the floor
• walks with swinging steps
• can stand on one foor
• love jumping
• beginning to draw square
• hop with both feet
• pedals a tricycle
• throws a ball underhanded
• cuts paper
• works a puzzle of several pieces
• draws simple shapes
• sits on a chair with knees crossed
• can climb trees and ladders
• hops on favored foot and balances upon it for 3-5 seconds
• can make sharp turns on a tricycle

PERCEPTUAL-COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

• stacks 5 graduated cubes from largest to smallest; builds a pyramid of 6 blocks
• places lower and upper case letters in form board
• near the end of this year;; the child may: name about 75% of uppercase letters and write several; print own name; recognize some printed words (especially those which have a special meaning attached to them)
• some children are beginning to read very simple books, such as alphabet books, with only few words per page and many pictures
• likes stories about how things grow and how things operate
• rote counts to 20 or more
• powers of thought developing rapidly
• learn best by doing
• powers of recognition are developed
• imagine and fantasize in a controlled way
• begins to develop the ability to deal with abstraction
• begins to distinguish between appearance and reality
• begins to understand false beliefs
• perceives another person’s point of view
• develops increased memory and attention span and can recall objects and events
• develops counting, math, and problem solving skills
• names and matches colors
• can thread beads, but still cannot thread a needle
• arranges six cubes to build three steps
• grasps pencil maturely; copies letters H, O, T, V
• draws a man showing head, legs plus arms and trunk

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

• uses the prepositions “on”, “in”, and “under”
• answers “whose?” “who?” “why?” and “how many?”
• speech is 95% intelligible
• refers to activities, events, objects and people that are not currently present
• states first and last name, gender, siblings’ names, and sometimes the telephone number
• answers appropriately when asked what to do if tired, cold, or hungry
• recited and sings simple songs and rhymes
• language develops alongside their powers of thought
• can understand more words than they can say
• gaining an increasing precision in the use of words
• language becomes more difficult
• more language they have, the faster thinking will progress
• acquires vocabulary rapidly
• begins to use complex sentences, indicating increased understanding of grammar and structure of language
• uses private speech more
• understands and shows interest in printed and handwritten words; tries to read and write
• can talk intelligibly, using correct grammar and few childish mispronunciations
• asks what different words mean
• counts to 20 by rote, counts actual objects to 5
• accurately says or sings a few nursery rhymes

PERSONAL-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• outgoing; friendly; overly enthusiastic at times
• moods change rapidly and unpredictably; laughing one minute, crying the next; may throw tantrum over minor frustrations; sulk over being left out
• imaginary playmates or companions are common; holds conversations and shares strong emotions with this invisible friend
• cooperates with others; participates in group activities
• shows pride in accomplishments; seeks frequent adult approval
• often selfish; not always able to take turns or to understand taking turns under some conditions
• tattles on other children
• enjoys role-playing and make-believe activities
• name calling and taunting are ways of excluding other children
• establishes close friendships with playmates; beginning to have a “best friend”
• children describe themselves almost entirely in physical terms
• able to differentiate between themselves and other people
• cannot easily distinguish their own thoughts and feelings from other people’s
• plays assists children in understanding the point of view and feelings of other children and provides opportunities for pro-social behaviors
• form first friendships

DEVELOPMENTAL ALERTS

Check with a health care provider or early childhood specialist, if by the fifth birthday, the child does not:

• hop on one foot
• state own name in full
• have good control of posture and movement
• catch a large bounced ball
• recognize simple shapes: circles, square, triangle