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Our Vision is that ALL Centre County children enter school ready to learn.
The first years of your child’s life are full of growing, learning, and changing. As parents, you will watch, guide, and problem-solve with your child through each new experience and developmental stage. Below, you will find some key benchmarks for your 4-year old. Use them as a general checklist of what your child should be doing. But trust your own instincts. Children learn at different rates and in different ways. Be sure to check with your doctor if you have concerns.
At age 4-5 years, your child will ask many questions…enjoys and takes pride in planning and making decisions with the family…likes to tell and make up stories…enjoys creating with colors, paint, paper, glue and scissors.
Other skills to look for:
Walks and runs well, maintains balance; begins to skip and hop
Dresses completely (zips and buttons, laces shoes)
Serves him/herself at the table; uses a fork and spoon
Washes face and hands without help
Plays games with other children and agrees to, and obeys, rules
Prefers to play in a group of 2-3 children
Begins to understand time, such as "yesterday", "next year", etc.
Can recall facts and tell what is missing from a familiar set of objects
Uses full sentences
Knows name and address
Can carry out a series of three commands (find the book, move the bike, close the door)
Matches and names colors, circle/square/triangle
Asks about letters, numbers, and words and is interested in the meanings
Says numbers 1-10, understands simple concepts of math
When to get a professional opinion:
If you notice your child has difficulty climbing stairs, catching a large ball, pedaling a tricycle and avoids using swings or slides at the playground.
If your child usually avoids interactions with others, prefers to play alone, or has difficulty learning or following routines.
If your child seems not to hear well or doesn’t seem to understand what is being said, have his/her hearing checked.
If you have concerns regarding your child’s development, please contact Centre County Early Intervention (birth-3 years) at 814-355-6786 or Central Intermediate Unit (3 years and up) at 800-982-3375.
1. http://www.smartstartcc.org/