Child Growth: Preschool 4 Years (Child Development Information) - Child Development

4 Years

EATING
While it's useful to know that 4-year-olds are creatures of habit, and that their diets are no exception, you may meet with better success in getting your child to taste new foods by offering them alongside old favorites. If mealtime is a challenge, try dishing out very small first servings on your child's plate. To generate a little additional enthusiasm, include your child whenever possible in the shopping for meals, as well as their planning and preparation.

While eating sugar has not actually been shown to make children bounce off the walls, it is nonetheless a good idea to limit your child's sugar intake as part of a good nutritional and dental health program. That said, it is not recommended that children be given sugar substitutes in the place of sugar unless they have a special dietary problem — such as diabetes — that precludes sugar. In such a case, the nutritional changes should be discussed with your child's doctor.

Children this age need fat in their diets. However, many get far too much, and in many instances, a 4-year-old's fried and fatty food intake could afford to be cut back (but not eliminated). Grains, fruits, and vegetables, along with enough protein to ensure proper growth, should be offered and discussed as making up a healthy diet. Parents should also pay attention to calcium — most commonly given in the form of milk, cheese, and other dairy products — since it is a necessary component of healthy bones and teeth. Four-year-olds will often still want a snack between meals, so it is helpful to have an array of healthy snacks available — raw carrots, sliced apples, cubed cheese, or boxes of raisins. Be aware that even though 4-year-olds can eat just about anything, choking is still a real threat.

If your child is eating well, a multivitamin is probably not necessary, but it might be appropriate for a picky eater. Discuss your child's eating habits and the need for vitamins with your pediatrician.

SLEEPING
Most 4-year-olds give up their afternoon nap (if they haven't already), but often make up for lost sleeping time during the day by sleeping a bit longer at night, typically about 11 1/2 hours at this age. Nightmares and other sleep disturbances at this age often reflect what's going on during the child's waking hours — whether a child has recently watched a scary movie or is nervous about starting school. Given that this age is one of both independence and following routines, maintaining a fairly regular bedtime schedule can make getting your child to bed easier. Reading aloud to your child is not only a great way to spend some quiet time together while getting ready for bed, but also a good way to help prepare your child to learn to read — and love it!

PLAYING
Much of what your child learns at this age is expressed in his play, not only his ability to cut with scissors, but to share and pretend. Even when playing with simple household objects such as cardboard tubes and empty cartons, children give themselves valuable lessons in counting, cause and effect, and problem solving. And by finding new purposes for ordinary objects, they learn to think creatively.

When engaging in pretend play with other children, your child also learns about cooperation. Role playing is how children attempt to understand the adult world. Talking aloud as they direct their own actions or those of other children is a way of sharpening their language skills. Devising their own pastimes and accomplishing the tasks they set forth for themselves are real confidence builders. Play affords children the opportunity to act out their feelings.

Board games are of more interest to 4-year-olds than to younger children, and are a good way for you to introduce your child to the concept of following rules and taking turns — ideas that are not always picked up quickly by children this age.

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