1. Typical characteristics of the four year old
FEARLESS FOURS
Typical characteristics
of the
four year old
All four year olds are not alike. But there are certain things that almost all four year olds do. Some may do them sooner, some may do them later

2. THIS PROGRAM IS PRESENTED TO YOU BY:
Annette Jewell, Nutrition/Wellness Agent
Lancaster County and
Alinda T. Uzel, Family & Human Development Agent
King William/King & Queen Counties

3. Parenting is not an easy job
No prior experience necessary
On-the-job training
A job you work your way OUT of
When finally secure in the job, you are out of business!

4. The typical four year old:
Likes to talk and asks lots of questions
Likes to try out silly words and sounds
Uses sentences of about 4-5 words
Able to cooperate and play in groups
Likes books and stories with more complicated plots
May indulge in name calling and bragging
Wants more independence than they can handle
Can count 4 or more objects
Knows colors and can name them
Beginning to reason
Get parent involvement here as you go from point to point.

5. Child growth and development can be divided into
three main areas:
Physical
Intellectual
Social-Emotional

6. Physical: Rapid rate of growth - weight gain of 3-5 pounds per year
Walking and running more coordinated
Uneven development of motor skills - may lose interest in one skill while acquiring another
Frequent falls but few broken bones because bones are not calcified
High rates of physical activity - requires lots of sleep/rest
Susceptible to infectious diseases
Established eating, sleeping, elimination habits
Locomotor and manipulative play are enjoyed

7. Intellectual: Develops language
Enjoys drawing to represent experiences
Not yet capable of sustained, systematic thought
Increased physical movement motivates child to explore his environment which expands learning skills
Elaborate on each point
With the drawing section, emphasize that the finished product is not the important thing – it is the process
With the thought section, emphasize that this is NOT the age of reason – they have not developed this yet – and won’t for several more years. Also, instructions should be given in small steps – not 3-4 at a time and expect the child to remember them. They will remember the last one but maybe nothing else.

8. Social-Emotional: Self Centered Sense of Property (Mine)
Enjoys cooperative play
May have difficulty making friends because of inability to communicate verbally
Uses laughter as form of communication
Needs security in family
Dependent upon others
Plays at being adult
Develops mind picture of self and others
Identifies strongly with parents--especially own sex parent
After going through the various points, you may want to say something like:
And, as a parent of this age child, sometimes you may think they are (click) “Stubborn as a MULE!!!”

9. Helping your child develop through food activities
Letting children help in food preparation:
Encourages parent/child interaction
Allows child to develop skills for the future
to cope
figure things out
make decisions
Gives greater chance of child trying a new food

10. BUTTERFLY BITES
FUN FOOD ACTIVITY

11. BUTTERFLY BITES Gather the ingredients 3 stalks celery
12 large twist pretzels
pretzel pieces
6 tablespoons peanut butter
raisins
Have these ingredients so the parents can “construct” their butterflies.
If someone says, my child won’t eat celery – you may say something like “It doesn’t matter.” (What could they use instead – maybe cream cheese or something else)
Explain about how this is a fun activity, by not focusing on the actual materials, focus on the “doing it together” – ask if their child likes peanut butter – or pretzels – or raisins. After they construct the butterfly, they can eat whichever pieces they like – or MAYBE they will try the whole thing.
This is a good way to get kids to possibly try something new.
Also, a child usually has to be introduced to new food items multiple times before they will actually try it. The trick is to introduce it without making it a big deal.

12. STEPS FOR CREATING YOUR BUTTERFLY
Wash 3 stalks celery, cut in half crosswise.
Fill each celery piece with 1 tablespoon peanut butter.
Add 2 pretzel wings.
Use pieces of pretzels for the antenna and raisins for decorations
Eat your butterfly before it flies away!!!
Let them use a plastic knife – tell them they can show the child the safe way to cut the celery – then stand back and allow them to do it independently.
This can be messy – but so what – it is the process, the bonding, the fun and creativity that counts.

13. HAPPY PARENTING!!!
Thanks to everyone who attended and participated – now, eat your butterflies so I don’t have to catch them!