4 Years of Age

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD

  • Read and tell stories to your child.
  • Explore outdoors. Your child should get at least 60 minutes of outdoor activity every day!
  • Visit your local Outdoor Discovery Center and parks.
  • Allow your child to help with routine tasks such as setting the table.
  • Teach him or her how to draw lines, shapes and people.
  • Teach how to use blunt-tipped scissors.
  • Provide activities such as art, story time, play groups and trips to the school, library, museum.
  • Play dress up with clothes, hats, jewelry.
  • Practice skills such as hopping on one foot, jumping, skipping, throwing/catching, walking on tiptoes.
  • Have your child point to the smallest thing.
  • Teach numbers, counting and colors.
  • Teach to throw a ball overhand and to catch a large ball with two hands.
  • Teach your child how to print his/her first name.
  • Hugs and “smiles of appreciation” build a healthy spirit! Use praise frequently.
  • Model Healthy Behaviors. “Actions speak louder than words”.

 

KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE

Car and Bike Safety

  • Children are required to ride in a booster seat until they are 8 years of age or 4 feet tall (57 inches). It is recommended that they stay in the booster seat until the regular car seatbelt fits correctly; the shoulder harness must rest on your child’s shoulder and not on his/her neck. Refer to www.michigansafekids.org for additional information.
  • Never leave your child unattended or alone in the car.
  • Model safe behavior by wearing your seatbelt.
  • Require ALL members of your family to use booster seats, seatbelts, bike helmets and protective sports gear.
  • Everyone in your family should always wear CPSC-approved helmets for bike rides.
  • Talk about traffic and bicycle safety.

Poison Control

  • Keep household cleaners, soaps, medicines and vitamins locked up and out of reach.
  • If your child eats or has contact with something that could be poisonous, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
  • Do not make your child vomit unless directed to do so by the center.

Burns

  • Store matches and lighters out of the reach of your child.
  • Keep your child away from hot stoves, fireplaces, grills, and fire pits.
  • Your water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use cool mist humidifiers.
  • Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.

General Safety Tips

  • Teach your child to swim and watch your child constantly whenever near water.
  • Keep your child away from moving cars, lawn mowers, and garage doors.
  • Teach your child to play in the yard and away from the road.
  • Teach your child to ask permission before approaching any dog.
  • Never leave your child alone in the house, care or yard. Supervise all play.
  • Have your child learn his/her first name, last name, age, address, city and telephone number.
  • Teach telephone use and how/when to dial 911. Discuss emergency situations.
  • Teach stranger safety.
  • Talk about “private parts” , “good touch” and “bad touch”.
  • Always supervise computer/internet use. Install parental control/monitoring programs.

Guns and Sharp Objects

  • The safest thing is to never have a gun in the house.
  • If you have a gun, store it unloaded and locked away. Ammunition must be locked separately away from the gun.
  • Keep knives, scissors and other sharp objects out of reach.

 

KEEP YOUR CHILD HEALTHY

Fever

  • Fever at this age is a normal response to illness. You may give acetaminophen to relieve any discomfort.
  • Please call our office for an appointment if your child’s fever lasts more than 72 hours or there are symptoms that concern you.

Vaccines

  • Keep your child vaccinated on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and your doctor. Splitting doses can be risky and is NEVER recommended by your doctor! Check with your insurance company before each well visit. Ask about deductibles, maximum benefits and if they pay for ANY PART of the cost of vaccines.
  • It is normal to have a fever for a couple of days after vaccination.

Smoking

  • Do not smoke.
  • Consider stopping smoking if you do smoke.
  • Do not smoke in your house or in your car.
  • Do not allow others to smoke around your child.

Hands

  • Wash your child’s hands before meals and snacks.
  • Teach your child to sneeze and cough into his/her elbow.

Nutrition

  • Offer your child skim, ½% or 2% milk.
  • Juice is not needed. If desired, offer 4-6 ounces maximum per day.
  • Offer water if still thirsty.
  • Offer a variety of food each day .
  • Serve your child 3 regular meals each day with 1 or 2 planned healthy snacks each day. Offer a variety of foods.
  • Snacks may include fresh fruit cut in small pieces, applesauce, cheese, whole grain bread or crackers.
  • Remember that your child will eat when he/she is hungry. Do not force him/her to eat but encourage him/her to try new foods. Keep mealtime pleasant and encourage good manners.

Dental Health

  • Brush your child’s teeth with a soft toothbrush after each meal. Floss daily.
  • Have regular dental visits.

Sleep

  • Children this age need about 11 hours of sleep each night. They may also need extra rest times.

Skin Protection

  • Limit play in direct sunlight. Apply sunscreen (SPF 30) and reapply frequently as needed.
  • If needed, insect repellents with a DEET concentration of 30 % or less may be used.

Adapted from Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents—Third Edition: Joseph F. Hagan, Jr. MD, FAAP; Judith S. Shaw, RN, MPH, EdD; and Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP