Your four year old, fourth month

How your child's developing

Predictable routines and a saint-like patience with your four year old's non-stop questions will help them navigate their world. They’re busy picking up skills like eating with a knife and fork, swimming, and helping to take care of the family pet. On top of that, their imagination is blooming wildly.

By now your child can manoeuvre a spoon to their mouth without spilling cereal or (much) soup. They can use a fork and may even be able to spread soft butter with a knife. They should be able to drink from a lidless cup without spilling, though you'd be wise to stick to small, unbreakable cups for a while yet. But they’ll still need help with cutting their food.

You’ll also notice your four year old’s artistic streak flourishing now. Ask them to draw a person and instead of a stick figure, you’re likely to get something with facial features, fingers and even a pot belly! Four year olds love drawing houses too, so why not ask your preschooler to draw your family home, complete with family?

Your life now

Running out of fun local excursions because it seems like you've already done everything a dozen times already? Here are some fresh ideas that fascinate four year olds:

• The fire station. Even if it doesn't offer tours, just stopping by and seeing the fire engines up close is a winner.
• A market. It's more fun than a supermarket, with more people to watch. Go on a hunt for a particular vegetable or fruit. Practise counting skills on tomatoes or cabbages.
• A garden centre. Even the flowers and plants at the local DIY superstore offer a close-up look at some new-to-your-child greenery. Buy a hardy, fast-growing plant for them to take care of themselves, or go on a smelling tour in the flower and herb section.
• A pet supplies shop. Lots of pet supply stores have a few real animals, such as guinea pigs or rabbits, on display. They often also feature aquatic sections, where a four year old can while away an hour watching brightly coloured fish darting to and fro.

Let's play!

A great activity for you and your preschooler to enjoy this month.

Parent tip: it's all in the timing

"I use the timer on my phone to help me manage my kids' screen time. If they want to watch TV or play on their tablets, I’ll set it for an hour and let them know. Once the alarm goes, that's it: time to switch off. But occasionally I cheat and add a few minutes on to the time if I need to get a job finished."