Have you noticed that you now have a little adult in the house aged just 4 years and 7 months old? That's right – it's your child! He is growing more independent, brimming with self-confidence at times and can be downright bossy too!
Read on to find out about the common developmental milestones of your 4-year-and-7-month-old child. Do bear in mind that children develop at their own pace, and they may achieve these milestones at different times. Please consult with your child’s pediatrician if you are concerned about his development.
4-Year-and-7-Month-Old Child Development and Milestones: Is Your Child on Track?
Physical Development
Your child may start jumping up and down when it gets close to 5 pm as he knows it’s time for the playground! There, allow your little one to run, hop, climb, swing from the monkey bars, throw and kick balls to his hearts’ content.
It’s a perfect time to teach skills like scootering, riding a tricycle or balance bike, or execute gymnastic drills like somersaulting and cartwheeling.
Here is the median height and weight* of kids who are 4 years old and 7 months:
- Boys
- Height: 106.4 cm (41.9 in)
- Weight: 17.5 kg (38.6 lbs)
- Girls
- Height: 105 cm (41.4 in)
- Weight: 17.1 kg (37.7 lbs)
Look out for the following skills, too:
- Your little one can balance on one foot for at least a few seconds.
- He can skip.
- He can stack at least 10 blocks.
- Your child can climb steps alone, placing one foot after the other (not both feet on one step before proceeding to the next).
- He can walk a few steps backward.
Tips :
- Let your child practice his new-found abilities and enjoy his independence. However, remember to always bring water when you go to the park, and dress him in a helmet and knee pads if he is cycling or scootering. If you're going to be outdoors at dusk, bring mosquito repellent.
- Play fun games that strengthen existing physical skills. For example, walking 8 steps backward, or balancing for 10 seconds on one foot.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If your child shows any of the signs below, it may be worthwhile to make a trip to your family pediatrician.
- Is unable to stack more than 8 blocks
- Has trouble holding a crayon or a paintbrush
- Has trouble with dressing or undressing his or herself, with cleaning their teeth, using the bathroom and washing and drying their hands
Cognitive Development
You may need to get yourself a pair of earplugs! Your little one may be a natural chatterbox and can surprise you by easily holding a lengthy conversation not just with you but also with his friends. At this age, your child can now use logic to ask and answer questions, impressing you with the thought process they go through.
Plus your child may be your own home entertainment system. Once he or she gets in the mood, watch out for singing, dancing, performing and maybe even some magic tricks.
Other language and cognitive milestones your child may achieve this coming year :
- Making up his own words
- Knowing left from right
- Work out how things work, i.e., being able to screw and unscrew a lid from a jar
- Understand the concept of time, i.e., breakfast is in the morning, lunch is at noon and dinner is at night.
- The ability to grasp what is past, present and future. For example, knowing what they have done, what they are doing and what they are going to do
It may be easier on you as your child can now understand complex commands such as “Please keep your toys, change into your pyjamas and brush your teeth. It’s bedtime.”
Your child may also be able to write his own name and memorise your phone number and address.
Tips:
- Your child is learning to take complex commands so help him or her out by keeping your instructions clear, simple and concise. Set them up for success!
- Practice positive reinforcement. When your child achieves something, praise his so that the behaviour will be repeated
- Allow your child to play with simple everyday items. You will be amazed to see how his imagination and creativity transforms a simple pot or pan into a magical toy.
- Occasionally, let your child play with more sophisticated toys that challenge and test his cognitive development.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you notice that your child is displaying any of these signs, you may want to get it checked out by their pediatrician.
- Being really afraid, shy or aggressive
- Cannot focus on a task for more than 5 minutes; gets easily distracted
- Having a limited amount of interests
- Being unable to say his or her full name
- Rarely pretending or fantasising
- Often seeming sad, unhappy and not expressing a wide range of emotions
Speech and Language Development
By this age, your child will be talking non-stop! You may even find it difficult to make him stay quiet for a while. But this is a good sign because it indicates the development of language and motor skills at the same time. You'll also notice him do the following:
- Write his/her own name
- Memorise your phone number and address
- Speak clearly and intelligibly
- Use all the grammatical markers such as pronouns (me, you, he, she, him, her, we, us, they, them)
- Use possessive pronouns (My, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, our, ours, their, theirs)
- Add "ing" at the end of words
- Understand conjunctions such as "and"
Tips:
- Since at this stage, he can correctly pick up most grammatical markers, it's a good idea to practice speaking full sentences with him.
- Read him a book or two per day and make sure to share the meaning of words
- You can also use flashcards to show him how to use pronouns and conjunctions.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- When you notice that he is unable to use any grammatical markers
- He cannot grasp the concept of tenses- past, present, and future
- He is unable to stitch a sentence together
Emotional and Social Development
It will be cute to see your child hanging out with his friends, or enjoying his playdates very much. He is learning that the world does not revolve around him. Now, he understands that other people have feelings too!
“My turn!”
“No! You already had a turn, it’s my turn now!”
You will start to hear your little one working through conflicts and hopefully learning to share and take turns most of the time!
Emotional and social milestones your child may hit this coming year :
- Understands and obeys rules, but may still be demanding and uncooperative at times
- Can express negative emotions verbally instead of physically
Tips:
- If you witness a conflict like the one above, resist the urge to intervene. Let your child learn to work it out alone. Only step in if necessary.
- Encourage your child to express what he is feeling; whether it's positive or negative. Allow him to work through his emotions.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If your child:
- Shows extreme separation anxiety
- Does not want to play with other children
- Refuses to make eye contact with or respond to other people.
Health and Nutrition
Nutrition is important for your child’s growth and learning and also to provide energy for high activity levels. Generally, your kid would need a certain amount of calorie intake throughout the day to help him or her grow.
- Boys: 1,624 calories
- Girls: 1,522 calories
Your little one is able to feed himself and able to try a wide variety of foods. Offer different choices for your little one to explore tastes, colours and textures and mealtimes will be an exciting adventure that your child will look forward to.
Here are the nutrients your child will need to meet his nutritional goals:
- Protein
Good for building muscles and repairing tissues, protein supports your child's very active lifestyle. As your kid grows, he or she would need protein to develop internal organs such as the heart — which is made up of protein. Make sure to add eggs, lean meat, fish, or beans on his or her plate to sustain healthy growth.
- Fruits
Fruits are well-known to be a good source of vitamins and minerals. It's important to alternate different colors in each meal or mixing them to get different benefits. Try choosing from greens, yellows, reds, to oranges and purples to make every mealtime exciting and fun!
- Vegetables
Just like fruits, vegetables have enzymes to keep your child healthy and protected from heart diseases in the future! Apart from that, it also helps prevent excessive weight gain which can lead to obesity. Make sure to choose from a variety of colours for your veggies as well to gain different benefits.
- Grains
Your kid's lifestyle at this age is healthy. As he explores the world more, he would need all the energy he needs to have the strength to discover new things. You can get these form healthy grains — whole grains, preferably. Whole grains, unlike processed ones, still have the bran and germ, which stores the majority of the nutrients he needs for healthy development and growth.
- Milk/Dairy
Milk is known to give your child calcium that makes his bones and teeth strong. Other good sources of calcium are dairy products like butter, yogurt, and cheese. You can even have fun with other dessert food which contains calcium like ice cream, mousse, and dessert type custard. However, be mindful as these usually contain high amounts of sugar content.
To get an overview of how your child's daily intake should look like, here's a list.
- Protein: 28.8 grams
- Fruits: 3 cups
- Vegetables: 2 cups
- Grains: 4 ounces
- Milk/dairy: 20 ounces
Vaccinations and Common Illnesses
There are no vaccinations due this month. But if you want a full list of your child's immunisations, click here.
Remember, even though your child has a complete vaccination record, he or she is not immune to common diseases like fever, common colds, and cough.
Treating Common Illnesses
Common illnesses to look out for are cough, cold, and fever. Fortunately, there are simple home remedies you can do before bringing your precious one to the doctor. However, the moment your child's temperature spikes up to 39°C, it's best to take him or her to the pedia and follow proper medication.
- Fever
You may notice a slight decrease in energy even if your child has a slight fever. It's important to save the little energy that your little one has and make sure he or she gets an ample amount of rest. Ensure that your precious one stays hydrated as well. Also, applying lukewarm compresses can help bring down the temperature. If it goes above 38°C, talk to your pediatrician immediately.
- Cough
Being exposed to different places can cause your child to get a persistent cough. One simple home remedy you can do is making a glass of ginger and honey mixed in lukewarm water. Check if the phlegm gets yellowish, as it might be a sign of infection.
- Cold
There are many factors that trigger the common cold. In times like this, it's best to keep your child hydrated. Avoid buying over-the-counter medication without speaking to your pediatrician first.
Remember, prevention is better than cure so be sure to teach your child the importance of proper hygiene. The simple proper technique of washing hands can save you a lot of medication bills!
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- If you see a sudden change in your child’s weight, that is a red flag.
- If there is persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
- Your child has a rash that doesn’t seem to go away, or is painful or is deep into the skin.
- A fever at this age can also lead to something serious, so be sure to consult with a doctor if your little one is running a temperature or complains of pain.
Previous month: 4 years and 6 months
Next month: 4 years and 8 months
(*Disclaimer: This is the median height and weight according to WHO standards.)