Toddler Age 4
Growth & Development: I can do it!
More Independent...
Your little one wants to do more and more for her self with each passing month. She’s getting dressed in the morning, brushing her teeth at night, using a fork and spoon, and buckling herself into her booster seat. She may even start her own routines and rituals -- a sign of independence and growing self-esteem.1
Learning Quickly...
Your toddler is learning like crazy, and probably knows his first and last names, address and phone number. He’s learning and understanding the alphabet and may be able to write at least some letters of his name.1
Feelings...
At this age, you're seeing signs of your child growing emotionally as well. She may recognize how others feel and show her sense of humor by trying to make you laugh. She’s developing friendships independent of you and really playing with other kids rather than side by side. She may start asking complicated questions about birth and death.1
Good Advice for Mom
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Encourage playtime each day. Dieticians of Canada says toddlers should get at least 30 minutes and preschoolers at least 60 minutes of daily structured physical activity such as skating, active games or gymnastics. All children should get another 60 minutes to several hours per day or unstructured physical activity.2 That may seem like a lot, but it goes by quickly when you make it part of your family's routine. Plan walks, easy backyard games and a daily bike or tricycle ride to keep your child moving.
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Watch the amount of juice your toddler drinks. Studies show the sugar in fruit juice can discolor and eat away at tooth enamel, especially if children drink juice from bottles, cups or boxes all day or at bedtime.3
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Protect them from the sun. Even little bodies need protection from the sun's damaging rays. Always put sunscreen on your child about 20-30 minutes before they go outside, and use a PABA-free brand with an SPF of 15 or higher. Even if it's waterproof, it should be reapplied every 80 minutes or so if they're playing in the water.4
Toddler Age 5
Growth & Development: I'm big!
Growing up...
Five years old... wasn't it just yesterday when your child depended on you for everything? Now he/she is setting the table, inventing new games and can't wait to go play at a friend's house. They enjoy sharing, taking turns and giving things to people, and they understand the difference between right and wrong.1
Good memory...
Your toddler's language and number skills continue to develop, and by now, they can probably remember and repeat sentences of at least eight words. They know their tenses, and can write numbers up to 10. Days of the week, seasons of the year and basic shapes are becoming part of his/her repertoire.1
Good Advice for Mom
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Think protection. You want your toddler to be active, but you also want them to be safe. Keep in mind they are still developing coordination, balance and judgment, so it's up to you to protect him/her as they tests their new skills. For example, they should always wear a helmet when riding a tricycle or bike; he/she should have constant supervision in a swimming pool, even if he/she knows how to swim; and they should already know the rules of the street so he/she won't dart out after a ball or the dog.2
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Monitor your child's brushing. White spots on your child's teeth could be signs of trouble. When bacteria sits on the tooth, it causes the tooth enamel to wear away and leads to tooth decay. The answer? Start supervising when he/she brushes their teeth to make sure they do a thorough job. You may want to brush for them before bedtime just to be sure.3
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Proper sleep is critical for health, growth and development. Naturally, every child is different when it comes to sleep habits, but by the time your tyke is five, he/she probably needs 10 to 12-1/2 hours a day, including a nap. If they frequently fall asleep in the car, needs to be awakened in the morning, or seems cranky and irritable during the day, he/she may not be getting enough.4
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