pediatric therapy articles

Developmental Milestones by the End of 4 Years

Movement:

• Hops and stands on one foot up to five seconds
• Goes upstairs and downstairs without support
• Kicks ball forward
• Throws ball overhand
• Catches bounced ball most of the time
• Moves forward and backward with agility

Hand and Finger Skills:

• Copies square shapes, some capital letters
• Draws circles, squares, persons with two to four body parts
• Uses scissors

Language

• Understands the concepts of "same" and "different"
• Has mastered some basic rules of grammar
• Speaks in sentences of five to six words
• Tells stories

Cognitive:

• Correctly names some colors
• Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers
• Approaches problems from a single point of view
• Begins to have a clearer sense of time
• Follows three-part commands
• Recalls parts of a story
• Understands the concept of same/different
• Engages in fantasy play

Social:

• Interested in new experiences
• Cooperates with other children
• Plays "Mom" or "Dad"
• Increasingly inventive in fantasy play
• Dresses and undresses
• More independent
• Imagines that many unfamiliar images may be "monsters"
• Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality

Developmental Health Watch: Because each child develops in his own particular manner, it's impossible to tell exactly when or how he'll perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if his development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

• Cannot throw a ball overhand, jump in place, ride a tricycle, grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers
• Has difficulty scribbling and stacking four blocks
• Still clings or cries whenever his parents leave him
• Shows no interest in interactive games
• Ignores other children
• Doesn't respond to people outside the family or engage in fantasy play
• Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet