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Doctors use certain milestones for 4-year-olds to tell if they’re developing as expected. There's a wide range of what's considered normal, so some children gain skills earlier or later than others.

Kids who were born prematurely may reach milestones later. Always talk with your doctor about your child's progress.

Here are things preschoolers usually do by 4 years old:

Communication and Speech Milestones

Most 4-year-old kids know how to correctly use about 1,000 words! Strangers can understand what they say most of the time. Kids may not be able to say long words but can still express themselves in a way you can understand. For example, they may say “brella” for “umbrella.”

Your 4-year-old may also:

  • say sentences with 4 or more words
  • say parts of a song, story, or nursery rhyme
  • talk about their day
  • tell stories, some of which are made up

Movement and Physical Milestones

Many 4-year-olds can:

  • catch a large ball
  • hop
  • stand on one foot
  • use a fork
  • unbutton bigger buttons
  • hold a crayon between fingers and thumb (not in a fist)

Kids this age like to move and try new activities. Encourage development by letting kids try new things.

Social and Emotional Milestones

At 4 years old, your child will likely be able to:

  • learn how to behave in different settings, like being quiet in a library or laughing and shouting at a playground
  • be a helper (for example, pick up toys)
  • follow rules to avoid danger, such as not jumping from stairs or touching the stove
  • share and take turns when playing with friends
  • play pretend and ask to play with a friend
  • develop a wider range of emotions, like showing empathy for a friend who gets hurt
  • start to express emotions verbally, like “I am mad that he took my toy” or “I am sad that we are leaving.”

Help kids build confidence in this area and foster their self-esteem by letting them know they are important and capable of doing new things.

Cognitive Milestones (Thinking and Learning)

Your 4-year-old may be able to:

  • correctly name a few colors
  • count to at least 10
  • understand concepts like same/different
  • tell what happens next in a favorite story
  • follow 2- or 3-step directions
  • draw a person with 3 or more body parts

Development Activities for 4 Year Olds

Kids this age should be physically active throughout the day. Four-year-olds usually like to run, dance, climb, and be in motion, so encourage movement to help them stay healthy.

Some ideas:

  • play simple games like tag, “Duck, Duck, Goose,” and “Ring Around the Rosie"
  • toss a ball
  • encourage both active free play and structured (adult-led) play
  • do activities like dancing, jumping, hopping, and tumbling
  • make music by banging on a drum or cymbals
  • when inside, create an obstacle course, build a fort, or design a treasure hunt

When Should I Call the Doctor?

You know your 4-year-old child best. So, share your concerns — even little ones — with your child's doctor.

If your preschooler is not meeting one or more milestones or you notice that your child had skills but has lost them, tell your doctor. If your child’s annual well-child visit at age 4 isn’t coming up soon, you can make a separate appointment to discuss your concerns.

To learn more about early signs of developmental problems, go to the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program.

Date reviewed: July 2025