This month my son turned 4 years old and it went smoothly. We usually hold a party because he happens to share the same birthday with her aunt, my youngest sister either on our place or down her aunt’s who used to live just below us. But now my sister had move out and I was busy preparing for my school exam so I though it will just be quiet and simple just the three of us my husband, me and the birthday boy.I just bought 50 different fruits for the kindergarten for 30 adults and children and the teachers thanked me because it was healthy and keep the young ones calm unlike the usual ice cream and cakes that the parents brought when somebody celebrates birthday at the kindergarten.The day started smoothly upon seeing his name and the flag besides it he knows it his day lucky he was the only celebrant that day. The boy was so happy with the attention where they sang a lot of birthday song and received a little book and a monkey, a noisy monkey.
At home we continue the celebration by buying an ice cream cake so he can blow 4 candles and gave him a garbage truck which he loves.
It seems like yesterday that he was so dependent of me but now he has his own mine and he can beat me to some games in the computer, yes he has his own laptop to and he knows how to use it but he’s only limited to games like on Disney and other preschool programs on the web.
Now let me see his development based on the Great School Org
Milestones: 4-Year-Olds
A. Motor Development: Gross Motor Skills:
* running is more controlled; can start, stop, and turn
* turns somersaults; hops on one foot; gallops
* can easily catch, throw, and bounce a ball
*can brush teeth, comb hair, wash, and dress with little assistanceHe can all everything except the dentist suggest that adult should brush his teeth until he old enough to brush his teeth properly.
B. Motor Development: Fine Motor Skills
* copies crosses and squares
* prints some letters
* uses table utensils skillfully
* cuts on a lineHe was once good in using table utensils when he was 2.5 years old but since he started in the kindergarten he is a little backwards he don’t like using knife and fork maybe because he left-handed so kind of confusing.We will see to it that he should use the table utensils more often.
Language and Thinking Development
* uses a 1,500-word vocabulary; speaks in relatively complex sentences (“Mommy opened the door and the dog ran out.”)
* understands words that relate one idea to another — if, why, when
* continues to learn through experience and the senses
* understands, mostly, the difference between fantasy and reality
* understands number and space concepts — more, less, bigger, in, under, behind
* thinks literally; starting to develop logical thinking
* begins to grasp that pictures and symbols can represent real objects
* starts to recognize patterns among objects — round things, soft things, animals
* grasps the concepts of past, present, and future but does not understand the duration of timeIn this area he’s advanced than most children in his age because by 1 1/2 years old he knows all the colors, he can count, can tell the difference between big and little and can even sing several nursery rhymes. By 2 years old he can recite and read the Danish alphabet and numbers up to 50, can recognized patterns and forms.names of animals and his vocabulary was really amazing. So when started in the kindergarten at 2 & 7 months he was actually like a 4 yr old except the last one; grasp of the concepts of time. Now that he’s 4 he can memorize telephone numbers and some common words he often reads and master the remote control which even I sometimes forgets. He can say the days and the tomorrow and the future and when I say you only have 10 minutes he will say no 100 minutes. Amazing
Social and Emotional Development
* takes turns, shares, and cooperates
* expresses anger verbally rather than physically
* can feel jealousy
* may sometimes lie to protect herself, but understands the concept of lying
* enjoys pretending and has a vivid imaginationSocially compared to his peers he’s just needs more help because he can sometimes too dominating like he knows everything although he plays with other children but the concept of playing like fighting he’s still a baby he don’t like it. But I’ve seen him in the parlor games and he acts normal and enjoyed being playing with other kids outside his circles.
According to the About.com
As the parent of a 4-year-old, you should:
* Encourage and provide the necessary space for physical activity
* Instruct the child on how to participate in, and follow the rules of sporting activities
* Encourage play and sharing with other children
* Encourage creative play
* Teach children to do small chores, such as setting the table
* Read together
* Monitor both the time and content of television viewing (preferably less than 1.5 hours of TV, no more than 3 hours maximum)
* Expose the child to different stimuli by visiting local areas of interest
We are guilty of letting him watch too much TV sometimes more than 3 hours when he’s home and now his computer which sometime he spends 2 hours. Although he watches program and play games for his age it’s not good for eyes so we should limit it max 3 hours for both TV and computer. He already helping me set the table and small errands and he loves it. We love going out to the park but we should encourage or invite friends for overnight to encourage him to learn to share his toys and share his territory.
He can talk like a TV journalist and very observant and one time he asked me while ” Why the girls sits when they use the toilet while the boys just stands” and lot of questions and when I don’t know the answer I say “because it does,” that’s what he always answer whenever I ask him something although it more funny in Danish.
I will congratulate my self as a mother and as a parent as I together with my husband is able to meet the challenges of raising a super active boy without any problem considering he is our first and hope not the last.
And nobody is prouder when he always say “Jeg elsker dig Mor og Du er det bedste i hele verden” I love you and you are the best in the whole world.
And we love you also. You are the best thing that ever happen to us.
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10 comments
1 ping
Amor
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 17:20 (UTC 1)
Katuwa pala ang baby mo Ana, smart at sweet. Happy birthday to him. My son is a year older coz he'll turn 5 on March 27.
filipinamom
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 23:05 (UTC 1)
@Amor,
Thank you. OO nga minsan nagugulat kami sa kanya nya eh pero mabait sya at sweet. Sarap maging nanay although mahirap pero fulfilling.
Mayet
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 08:53 (UTC 1)
hi, I'm new here!! happy birthday to your son.
filipinamom
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 21:22 (UTC 1)
@Mayet
Thanks I visited your site interesting. Good day
Meddie
Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 15:19 (UTC 1)
hello po!
Laki na pala nang baby nyo! Happy birthday to him!
Ate Ana, tanong ko lang, coz you have mentioned that you are studying now. Did you get your educational papers assessed? I am considering to study maybe this year, a little tip will do..
Thanks,
MC
filipinamom
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 19:20 (UTC 1)
Hi Meddie,
I reply via email. Mas mabuti that you should have your education accredited maybe you don’t need to take another course.
The link below is where you gonna send your credentials or you can pay them a visit.
http://www.ug.dk/Programmes.aspx
Meddie
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 09:05 (UTC 1)
Hello po,
Thanks sa info! I'm still working on my papers pa naman.
I have replied to your email.
Meddie
owie
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 17:18 (UTC 1)
hi ana, ngayon lang uli ako naka-visit sa site mo. though, it is late, still want to send my warm greetings and best wishes to your son… kisses from ole and me…
ows
filipinamom
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 19:15 (UTC 1)
Hi Owie,
Thanks enjoy na nya magbirthday may meaning na kanya eh.
Regards
owie
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 09:49 (UTC 1)
hi ana,
it is now your turn to celebrate yours! happy happy birthday!
more power to the filipina mom in denmark.. that is you!
ole and i are wishing you all that you wish for.
cheers!
ows
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