Child Development and Milestones: Your 4-Year-and-5-Month-Old Child

It’s been more than 4 years since your precious child was born. And now, he’s already 4 years and 5 months old! Indeed, they do grow up so fast, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the amazing milestones in your child’s development. Of course, you’ll also want to know if your 4-year-and-5-month-old child’s development is on track, so we compiled this handy guide of what to expect.*

4-Year-and-5-Month-Old Child Development and Milestones: Is Your Child on Track?

Physical Development

Your 4-year-and-5-month-old child is pretty active at this age. You might even have a hard time keeping up, since he love to run, jump, climb, and do all sorts of physical activities. It might be tiring for you as a parent, but this is a good thing since it means that your child is growing up healthy and strong.

Generally, here’s the median height and weight* at 4 years and 5 months:

• Boys
  • Height: 105.3 cm (41.5 in)
  • Weight: 17.2 kg (37.9 lb)
• Girls
  • Height: 103.9 cm (40.9 in)
  • Weight: 16.8 kg (36.9 lb)

Here are some of the other skills in your 4-year-and-5-month-old child that you might encounter:

• Can do a somersault
• Is able to hold a pen and grasp small objects
• Is able to kick a ball
• Can throw and catch balls
• Can hop around
• Is able to stack 10 or more blocks

Parents should always remember that playing is an important part of their child’s development. So it’s a good idea to encourage your little one to play with other kids, or explore safe play areas such as playgrounds etc. These activities would help develop his physical ability, and can also keep your little one fit and strong.

Tips: 

• Be sure to make going outside to play a daily activity, to help boost your child’s physical development.
• Buy puzzles, building blocks, and other creative toys to train his manual dexterity, as well as his lateral thinking.
• You can also teach your child to swim, as it’s a great activity that helps keep your child fit and strong. Just be sure to keep your child supervised at all times, and be sure that there’s a lifeguard whenever you and your child go swimming.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

Parent’s shouldn’t immediately worry if they notice anything different about their child. The best thing to do would be to visit a doctor to get a proper consultation. Additionally, these are some signs to look out for:

• If your child can’t stack 10 or more blocks
• If he has trouble hopping, or balancing on one foot
• If he has trouble holding small objects, such as a pencil, or crayons

Cognitive Development

Kids this age ask a lot of questions and while this might frazzle you at some point, know that this is how they learn and absorb new knowledge. In fact, asking questions is a sign of a child who will always love learning, so go ahead and help your child find the answers… until the next question!

Your child can also follow more complex commands at this age, which is indicative of his rapidly developing cognitive skills. 

Here are some cognitive milestones to expect in your 4-year-and-5-month-old child:

• You can easily have a conversation with your child.
• Your little one can already do some simple chores, such as picking up his toys, or keeping his room clean.
• At this age, children find it easier to pay attention, so this is a good time to teach your child new things.
• He already has a basic grasp of time, and can recall past events easily.

Tips:

• Constantly talk to your little one. This can help build his vocabulary, and since he can pay more attention, he will easily remember the things you teach him, building memory skills.
• This is also a good time to start teaching your child a second language, if you wish. Children’s brains can adapt easily, so he can easily learn a new language while he’s young.
• Nurture your child’s love for reading, as this is crucial for strong literacy skills. 
• Instead of regular toys, invest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) toys, as these encourage cognitive development in your child through play. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor

• If you sense that your child’s attention span is still limited
• He still can’t pronounce simple words
• If he has a hard time following simple instructions, or if he doesn’t listen when you tell him to do something

Social and Emotional Development

In terms of social and emotional development, your 4-year-and-5-month-old child is starting to have more empathy. This means that he can understand how other people feel, and can understand how his actions can impact other people. This also means that your child can socialise better with other kids, and it’s easier for him to make friends.

If previously, your little one had a hard time sharing his toys, then you’ll find that at this age, it’s much easier for him to do. He’s also much more in control of his emotions, and has fewer tantrums in general.

Here are some developments in this sphere to look out for in your child:

• He has no problems doing things on his own, and is more independent.
• It’s much easier for you to manage his behaviour, since he can understand rules and guidelines that you set.
• He constantly looks for other kids to play with, and has little trouble making new friends.
• He has fewer tantrums, and will rarely shout or scream.
• Your child can also speak more clearly, and can handle himself when talking to other people.

Tips:

• Try setting up playdates with other kids, so that your child can interact with other kids around his age
• Implement some basic house rules, such as cleaning up after playing, or taking a bath before going to bed
• Encourage independence by letting your child do simple tasks such as dressing himself, or eating by himself without your help
• It’s a good idea to focus on teaching him social skills such as sharing, empathy, respect for others, and listening 

When to Talk to Your Doctor

If your child shows any of the following signs, then it’s a good idea to discuss it with a doctor to find out what might be the cause of the problem.

• Has a hard time getting along with other kids, or starts picking fights with them
• Prefers to play alone, and gets frustrated or annoyed when other kids try to play with him
• Has extreme separation anxiety when left alone, such as in a daycare, or in a playschool
• If he doesn’t like talking or engaging with other people, even you, and prefers to be alone by himself
• Still throws intense tantrums

Speech and Language Development

At this age, your child’s ability to learn new words goes into overdrive! This means that he will be constantly asking questions, talking, and trying to learn as much as he possibly can. It’s not uncommon to see your child pointing at different signs, and asking what those signs say. 

Your child will also sometimes point at objects, and ask you what they are called, so be ready with some satisfying answers. All this chatter is indicative of rapid speech and language development. 

Here are some other milestones that you can expect:

• His vocabulary will expand at this age, and he will try to use the new words he learns as much as possible
• He has no trouble speaking in complete sentences, and he can easily have conversations with people
• He can also answer questions when asked
• Your child can easily remember new words that you teach him

Tips: 

• Focus on expanding your child’s vocabulary, as well as practicing having conversations with him
• Flashcards are a good way to teach new words and concepts to your child. Make sure that the flashcards are colourful and visible, and that the text can easily be read
• Don’t worry if your child has some trouble using new words in sentences, be sure to teach them how to use those words properly so that he can remember the meaning
• When you read with him, point at the word you’re saying, so that your child learns to associate how the word sounds, with how it’s written. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor

• If your child is unable to say his name
• If he has trouble remembering any new words that you teach
• He still has trouble speaking in complete sentences
• If he has trouble talking, or has a hard time understanding what you’re trying to say 

In case your child shows any of these warning signs, don’t be afraid to consult your doctor about it. They would be able to provide the best advice and approach to help address your concerns regarding your child’s speech and language development.

Health and Nutrition

The thing to remember is to provide your child with the right amount of food and nutrients in order to help boost his development. Your child’s daily caloric intake should be as follows:

• Boys: 1,611 calories
• Girls: 1,508 calories

Taking naps in the afternoon, and having at least nine hours of sleep every night is also important. This helps your child’s body and brain grow. 

Your child’s daily food intake should ideally consist of:

• Protein

Your child is growing and needs a healthy amount of protein to build muscles. Apart from this, protein also helps in healing wounds and scars faster as it repairs tissues. Great sources of protein are red meat, eggs,  and fish. Some alternatives include tofu, beans, and nuts. 

• Fruits

Your little ball of energy can get the necessary vitamins and minerals from eating fruits. Your kid can also be protected from diseases such as stroke, heart diseases, and some types of cancer. To add a little fun, try choosing from a variety of colours. Alternating greens, oranges, yellows, reds, and purples give your child all the benefits from each fruit as well. 

• Vegetables

Vegetables can help your child get the dietary fibre and phytonutrients they need. Eating these would protect them from excessive weight gain. Like fruits, it’s best to alternate different vegetables to get all the benefits. Try to get a good mix of greens (broccoli, spinach, etc.), oranges (carrots, pumpkins, etc), yellows (corn, squash, etc.), and whites (cauliflower, mushrooms, etc.).

• Grains

Incorporating grains in your child’s diet gives him the energy he needs daily. They are also good sources of fibre and protein which is essential for normal growth and development. Try to remember that in picking grains, choose the whole grains since this type still contains the bran — which still contains the majority of the nutrients helpful for your child’s healthy growth.

• Milk/Dairy

As your child grows, he or she would need strong bones and teeth which can be acquired from calcium-rich food groups. These are usually found in milk, yogurt, and cheese. From time to time you can get calcium from ice cream, dessert type custard, or mousse. However, these may contain high sugar so it’s better to take it in moderation.

Vaccinations

At 4 years and 5 months old, there are no new vaccinations, but for a complete list of your child’s immunisations, click here.

You have to remember that even with a complete immunisation record, your child may still get the common illnesses. Fortunately, there are home remedies you can do to subside them.

Treating Common Illnesses

Getting the common colds or having an itchy throat is not too alarming at times. However, if your child’s fever spikes up to 39°C, it’s better to talk to a doctor for proper medication.

• Fever

Sometimes, lots of rest can aid slight fevers. It’s also important to have stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Applying lukewarm compresses also helps to bring the temperature down. 

• Cough

One cough is not too alarming. But if it gets repetitive, it might be a sign of infection. Home remedies include ginger and honey with lukewarm water. Try to watch out for a combination of cough and runny nose as well as this may be a sign of infection. 

• Cold

These are caused by a virus so antibiotics might not do the trick. If it’s accompanied by a high fever and body aches, it could be a sign of influenza. You’d need to bring your child to a doctor, if so. 

Emphasising the importance of good hygiene helps your child fights bad germs and can prevent common illnesses.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

• Sudden weight gain/ loss
• High fever (over 39 degrees Celsius)
• Any sudden mood changes
• Swelling and pain after a fall 

*If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please speak to your paediatrician for professional advice. 

Previous month: 4 years and 4 months

Next month: 4 years and 6 months

References: WebMD, Kids’ Health, CDC

(*Disclaimer: This is the median height and weight according to WHO standards)