Do you have a four year old at home? Do you wonder what it is like to be that age and how a four year olds skills and abilities affect their understanding?

Here are some ideas to help you see the world through your four year old's eyes.

Abilities
I am not a toddler any more. I can ride a trike and climb up high in the adventure playground. I can't hop or skip yet but I don't wear nappies any more in the day time. I am really getting quite independent. I can feed myself with a spoon and fork but cutting up food by myself with a knife and fork is tricky. I can pour drinks and suck through a straw too.

Playing
I go to nursery and get to do lots of different things. I still like running around with my friends playing chase but we are starting to play make believe games together where we decide what to do. I like to pretend I am someone else, usually someone big and strong with magical powers like Superman or Batman. I have noticed that boys and girls do not play together very much although grown ups would like us to.

Making and Doing Things
I can make things too which is a lot of fun. Sometimes I make models out of stuff our teacher brings or I build something with our building kits. We have lots of different types of kits which fixed together and we can make cars and houses and trains. Sometimes I do this with my friends, but at other times I want to make something all by myself and I get cross if anyone tries to touch it.

I can draw and paint pictures too, although I get fed up sometimes because it doesn't look right. I ask grown ups to help but they don't always think that is a good idea.

I really like listening to stories now and can't wait to find out what will happen next. At nursery we have some favourite ones with story bag so we can act out the parts that we know so well. I love saying the lines that I know off by heart.

I still like to be busy and on the move much more than I enjoy sitting down. I know some colours and numbers and that stuff that excites grown ups. I don't know why it does. Being able to fly and pretending to crash cars is what I call exciting. Girls have other stuff that they like, although the grown ups treat us the same. Some adults argue about whether its something called 'nature or nurture'.

If people want to make my life really nice for me, here are my top 5 things to do:

1. Make sure I have plenty of time to run about and explore. I need to use my body and imagination for myself.

2. Leave me to play with my friends somewhere safe where you can watch over me but don't try to tell us what to do too often. Grown ups do have good ideas but I need to think for myself too.

3. Encourage me to make a plan so that my play has a purpose. I like to "plan, do and review" so I can talk about thing with an adult before I get started and tell everyone what I have done later. That way I get a real sense of independence and achievement but I have had adult help.

4. Don't ask me to do too many new things in one day, If I have to keep stopping and starting I get fed up. I need to feel successful because there is still so much to learn.

5. Do tell me how I am getting on and give me lots of praise and encouragement. Grown ups are so clever, and I am still so small, that your praise evens things up a bit.


© Jeni Hooper. No content to be reproduced without written approval of the author.

Jeni Hooper is a Chartered Psychologist, Parent Coach and Director of Happy2Learn.

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