Activities and games for 4 to 5 year-olds

At 4 to 5 years old your child is rapidly developing their cognitive abilities and beginning to declare their independence in certain areas. You will find them gaining energy and motivation, but also becoming more outspoken and argumentative. Here are a few ways to engage with your 4 -to-5-year-old child and get them ready for kindergarten!

1. Movement Skills: Mini Monkeys!

Now is the time to hit the playground hard. Your little one is already running, jumping, and hopping, but they are also developing the ability to climb! Jungle gyms and monkey bars become staples of outdoor play during this period. Now may also be a good time to consider an age-appropriate children’s tumbling or recreational gymnastics program, as most children become able to turn a somersault at this age.

2. Fine Motor Skills: Handling Hygiene

By this age, your child will likely be able to use the toilet and wash their hands with minimal assistance. It’s a good time to start implementing healthy hygiene habits in general. Try to make a game out of teaching your child to brush their hair and teeth and wash their face each day. You could consider making them a checklist of grooming activities to be completed in the morning and at night, symbolized by pictures of a toothbrush, hair brush, etc.

3. Language Skills: The Future is Bright!

At ages 3 to 4, your child’s interest in stories and storytelling was burgeoning. At 4 to 5, they are now equipped with more resources than ever before to let their imaginations run wild. They can express themselves in sentences of five words or more and recall more information about stories they’ve been told or have told in the past. One major linguistic game-changer that arises at this time is the use of future tense. Encourage your child to exercise this new gift by prompting them to predict future events. For Example: “What do you think will happen when we go to the park?” “Who will we see at Grandma’s house?” “Tell your uncle where we’re going this Saturday!”, etc. Your child is also ready to memorize and recite their name and address, a skill with important practical benefits should they ever become lost or separated from you.

4. Cognitive Growth: Counting, Colors, and Clocks

From 4 years of age on, your child is gaining the ability to count up to ten and higher. This is an excellent opportunity to emphasize counting in daily life, inviting your little one to count objects they see around the house and in public places. Your child should also be able to correctly identify around 4 colors at this age and exposing them to more through arts and crafts will only bolster their knowledge. If your child starts to show an interest in art during this period, it is an advantageous time to look into an age-appropriate art program. Additionally, your child’s grasp on the concept of time tightens significantly from ages 4 to 5. It may be time to start teaching them how to read digital and analog clocks, and solidifying the concepts of morning, afternoon, evening, and night.

5. Social Butterflies and Superstars!

By this age, your child may already have been enrolled in a pre-school. Whether or not this is the case, they are likely to have a larger social circle than they did a year ago. Peer interactions take on a new dimension of importance to you, the parent, as you prepare to enroll your child in kindergarten. They also take on new importance for your child. Your child is more eager to preserve friendships than before and assigns them more importance. Also, many children with an inclination towards performing for others will begin to express this desire with impromptu recitals for friends and family. If this sounds like your child, consider signing them up for an age-appropriate performing arts program!