48 To 51 Months - Your Child Refines His Skills
Your child's movements are becoming steadier. He is able to place blocks with a steady hand and to build straight towers. Many skills are becoming more refined. He likes to examine objects, explore around the neighborhood, and use tools and equipment found around the house. He will be interested in more active and rougher games. Remember that it is important to supervise him even though he is becoming more able to do things on his own and can play for longer periods by himself. Many of the things he will want to do and which will provide him with increased learning experiences could lead to possible accidents.
A pre-school or Head Start program will give him a lead in learning and playing in groups of other children his own age. Ask your neighbors and friends about pre-school programs for your child.
SAFETY FIRST!
Keep all medicines locked up or out of the reach of children.
Keep matches & lighters out of reach.
Keep electric fans out of the reach of children.
Keep products in their original containers with their labels.
Never transfer poisons or cleaning materials to food or drink containers, boxes, jars or bottles.
Be sure to have your child wear a helmet and other safety gear when roller skating or riding a bike!!
Never refer to medicine as candy. Make sure medicines are stored so your child cannot open them.
Always lock away all firearms. Make sure they are unloaded when you put them away.
Always buckle your child in the back seat. Most children outgrow their car seat around four years of age. If your child weighs less than 80 pounds and her head is below the back of the seat, a booster seat should be used.
Continue to provide supervision; also model and teach good safety practices.
Be careful not to allow children into areas that have been sprayed for pests.
HEALTH HINTS:
Well Baby Check-ups: 48 months (Do it Now!)
Continue to encourage your child to eat healthy foods. Your child still needs supervision to ensure she brushes her teeth regularly and that she is washing her hands after using the restroom. Starting good eating, dental and personal cleanliness habits at this young age is very important.
Things You Can Do Everyday To Help Your Child Grow
Read to her everyday!! Let her pretend to read her favorite story to you.
Talk about things that happened yesterday and will happen tomorrow.
Practice tying shoes.
Play follow-the-leader.
Encourage digging and planting. Your child can learn many things from a garden (Even a small pot with a plant). Your child will enjoy seeing the plants grow and can take pride in helping the plants grow by watering them.
Cut up pictures from magazines to make puzzles.
Allow time for her to play "make-believe."
Teach her how to use roller skates and to ride a bicycle with training wheels. Be sure your child wears a helmet and safety gear.
Have her tell a story about a picture she has drawn. Write the story under the picture and put it up on the refrigerator or wall for to others to see.
Turn off the TV before a show's end and allow him to describe and act out his own ending.
Design and make a color card game.
Read to him everyday!!
Governor Bill Haslam
