4 year old girl with a fur-trimmed hood closes eyes and laughs. There are many milestones to look forward to with your four-year-old, including an increase in social emotional skills.

You Have a 4-Year-Old! Here's What to Expect

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  • Mother sits on a bed with a toddler on her lap and her 4-year-old daughter by her side. Practicing reading comprehension skills even before your child can read will give benefit your child greatly.

    Reading Comprehension with Your 4-Year-Old

    Even though your child hasn't started reading on their own quite yet, preschoolers delight in being read to by their parents or care providers. And with good reason. Their little minds are taking in a lot! From absorbing the illustrations to using context clues to learn vocabulary, your 4-year-old is building their reading comprehension skills each time you read them a book!

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  • A pair of child's hands build an imaginary apparatus with Legos. Imaginative play is crucial for a 4-year-old's development.

    Why is Imaginative Play So Important for 4-Year-Olds?

    Imaginative play, also known as pretend play, is a type of play that allows children to create their own stories and characters, and act them out in a make-believe world. This includes playing dress-up, building their own worlds using blocks, and using dolls and toy animals to create scenarios. This type of play is particularly important for 4-year-olds, as they are deep into the "Magic Years," a period between 3 and 4 years of age that is rooted in imagination and discovery. Playing pretend helps them to develop a number of important skills that will be useful to them throughout their lives.

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  • Toddler sits on bed with book on his lap and a Storypod beside him

    Leaning on Illustrations to Strengthen Reading Comprehension Skills

    While, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” may be an old adage that holds true in some cases, it turns out that when it comes to actual children’s books, illustrations may play a bigger role in early literacy than we think. Everyone knows that illustration does wonders for capturing attention and engaging the minds of our little ones.

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  • Father and daughter clean dishes together as a part of their cleaning routine

    Do Children Thrive with Routines?

    Whether you consider yourself a free-spirit or a highly organized individual, there’s no doubt that there are some routines you’ve put in place to help things run smoothly and efficiently in your life. From health routines to cleaning routines, regular and consistent steps help to bring about good results. Just like adults, children require routines to help them get through their day, too. But more than that, children actually thrive with routines because routines help them to learn, build confidence, and give them the feeling of security vital to experiencing a stable childhood.

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  • Kindergarteners raise their hands in the classroom

    7 Social Emotional Skills Your Child Should Have Before They Start Kindergarten

    When parents wonder if their child is ready for kindergarten, they are often thinking of academic expectations that they will need to meet in order to be successful. Although this is important, studies show that a child’s social emotional skills have more of an impact on their overall success than anything else.

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  • Child and mother's hands play a game of Jenga indicating bonding

    Promoting Development with Family Game Night

    Aside from the obvious benefit of family bonding, a game night actually develops important skills in your children. From motor skills to lessons in self-regulation, the rewards of engaging in this weekly practice will compel you to pull out the board games right away!

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  • An array of colorful toys are arranged carefully on a white background. Keeping toys organized through toy rotation is an easy way to combat overwhelm and avoid overstimulating your child.

    The Magic of Toy Rotation - An Easy Practice to Combat Toy Overwhelm

    Birthdays, holidays, doting grandparents, and everything in between — it's likely your child has a wealth of toys at their disposal given to them with the hopes of enrichment and engagement. And while playing with toys is certainly a great way for a young child to learn, too many toys can lead to overwhelm, overstimulation and, believe it or not, boredom. Fortunately, there's a simple solution!

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  • 6-Year-Old boy, accompanied by his sister, whips up some homemade dog treats to donate to an animal shelter. There are many charity projects children 6 and under can do to learn about giving.

    6 Charity Projects for Children 6 and Under That Will Teach Them About Giving

    Reflecting on one's privileges and those who may not be as fortunate is an important practice in gratitude that will serve your child well in life later on. It’s great to create charity-center traditions that will teach children important lessons about giving and compassion as it will lay down the foundation for a kind adult. The earlier your child can learn such values, the better, so read on to discover a few simple charity projects that allow you to involve the youngest members of the family!

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  • Smiling 4-year-old boy raises his hands in excitement. There are many ways to manage over-excitement when big events are on the horizon.

    Managing Excitement: Helping Your 4-Year-Old Regulate Big Feelings

    Children are naturally enthusiastic, so it’s no surprise that excitement runs high when big events like birthdays or holidays come around. While your little one’s excitement can be lovely to witness, there are times when these feelings can become too intense and lead to agitation, hyperactivity, and even disappointment. Look out for the signs of overexcitement and try out a few strategies when your child’s big feelings start to get a bit out of control.

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  • Little girl quietly reads a book on her lap. There are 4 predominant learning styles that children may gravitate toward. Parents should make an effort to find out and understand their child's learning style.

    What are the 4 Learning Styles in Children?

    As with many aspects of their development, children are unique in the ways that they take in and retain information. From having an affinity for memorizing new words to working well with their hands, parents should take the time to notice their child’s tendencies in how they absorb the world around them as it could give them a clue to their learning style. This information can be useful when helping your child to learn new things at home or when they start school.

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  • Mother sits on the floor with two young daughters, flipping through a book while using Storypod. Engaging in audio experiences is one way to make reading fun for the reluctant child.

    8 Ways to Make Reading Fun for the Reluctant Child

    Reading is a vital part of a child’s future success in life, so it’s easy to understand why parents are so keen on making sure their little one is spending time with books. Despite best efforts, however, some children may show a  limited interest in literature. But, with a few creative tips and techniques, you can have even the most reluctant child finding a love for reading in their own special way!

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  • Happy little girl chases bubble outside

    Why Showing Gratitude at Home is Important for Raising Happy Children

    Science has shown that consistent practices in gratitude can reduce stress and increase overall happiness. Because children are so apt to imitate their parents, showing gratitude at home will instill habits in your kids that will affect their happiness throughout their lifetime. How does this simple habit make such an impact? Read on to find out!

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