Development
These skills tend to be quite variable. But at this age the typical child:

• Hops and jumps forward and can stand on one foot.
• Climbs a ladder, rides a tricycle, walks on tiptoes.
• Can build a tower of ten small blocks and can cut and paste.
• May name three or four primary colors.
• Counts from one to five and can sing a song.
• Dresses and undresses with supervision except for laces and buttons.
• Initiates make-believe and dressing-up play.
• Has formed gender identification.
• Copies a cross and a circle.
• Draws a person with two or three parts.
• Plays cooperatively and enjoys the companionship of other children.
• Asks questions constantly
• Tells stories about experiences either real or imaginary.

Safety
Injury prevention is proactive. Consider the following:

• Children may appear more aware of danger but still require close supervision.
• Select safe toys; avoid placing furniture with sharp edges in play areas.
• Wear appropriate car safety restraints.
• Teach children what to do in case of fire.
• Supervise a child when riding a bike or playing near the street.
• Lock up power tools, firearms, matches and poisons.
• Use caution when serving hot liquids at meals.
• Instruct children about behavior regarding strangers.
• Advise children to use caution around strange animals.
• When around water, children should be constantly watched by a responsible adult.

Parenting
These activities provide good examples for modeling important skills and encourage your child to grow in a healthy and happy way.

• Encourage children to sleep in their own beds if this arrangement is feasible.
• Provide opportunities for interaction with similar aged children.
• Begin to assign small chores such as setting the table.
• Praise a job well done.
• Realize a child can make and keep an agreement.
• Children are ready for simple board or card games.
• Keep up with an established bedtime ritual.
• Show interest in a child's daily activities at daycare or preschool.
• Limit television viewing.
• Encourage exploration and outings to new places.
• Promote activities that make children "figure it out" for themselves.
• Answer questions regarding sex honestly and at an age-appropriate level.
• Encourage privacy for children when they are dressing, undressing or bathing.
• Use correct terms for genitals.
• It is normal for children to be interested in their own bodies as well as their playmate's.

Nutrition
Good nutrition is essential to a growing body. Tips include:

• Serve balanced meals; avoid junk food and junk drinks.
• Continue fluoride supplementation if necessary.
• Create a pleasant atmosphere at mealtime with conversation about the day's activities as well as what's planned after the meal or the next day.
• Offer small portions of food with the opportunity for seconds.

Behavior
Childhood behavior may go from one extreme to another. This age is no exception:

• Reprimand privately.
• Provide clear and appropriate limits.
• Meaningless threats are ineffective; always follow through.
• Establish a balance between a child's need for independence and the need for limits.
• Do not talk down to a child or belittle a child.
• Be consistent.

Health
Health maintenance is essential to a child's well-being.

• Biannual dental visits ensure healthy teeth; promote dental hygiene.
• By this age, 95 percent of children are bowel trained.
• By this age, 90 percent of children are dry during the day and 75 percent are dry at night.

Resources
The following items may be useful:

• Ames, Louise. Your Four Year Old. Delacorte, 1976.
• Brazelton, Berry. Touchpoints: Your Child's Emotional and Behavioral Development. Addison Wesley, 1992.
• Mitchell, Grace. A Very Practical Guide to Discipline With Young Children. Telshare Publ., Inc. MA, 1982.
• Faber, Adele. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk
• Pantell, James Fries. Taking Care of Your Child—A Parent's Guide to Medical Care
• West, Richard. The Complete Guide to Childhood Ailments