4 years old

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child development stages

Your child

As your 4 year old toddler prepares to start school, they may already be able to write their name, and enjoy making up silly words. Imagination and reality can sometimes get a bit mixed up, and imaginary ‘friends’ can begin to make an appearance.

You

If your child’s a bit of a chatterbox, you may find yourself switching off from time to time. But listening is important – it boosts their confidence, helps them learn new language skills and strengthens the bond between you. When it comes to behaviour, the odd tantrum is still likely, but life should be easier as they start to respond more to reason.

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Comments

to answer 11071984sarah

Submitted by michellelouise09 on Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:22.
To answer 11071984sarah :My little boy will be 4 in february and has now been totally dry through the night for about 3 weeks. about 9 mths ago he was still soaking wet at night so much so that the nappys used to leak practically every night, we decided to try the huggies or pampers dry nights pants and told him that now he is a big boy he must not do wee's in these "big boy pants" and straight away it improved he had his potty by his bed all night and his night light on so he would be able to see we also limited what he drunk after 5.30 although we still had some wet nights it was more a little wet compared to soaked then a few weeks ago he decided that he was too big for these pull ups and that he wanted to wear proper pants to bed and although i was nervous that he would have an accident touch wood so far so good hope it helps good luck :-)

Being dry at night

Submitted by 11071984sarah on Thu, 22/12/2011 - 11:22.
My son has just turned 4, i started potty training him when he was 2 and a half, he picked it up really quickly and has only ever had a handful of accidents and these were when he first started, However, he still wears a nappy at night time. i have stopped giving him drinks after 5pm (teatime). But still his nappy is full when he wakes up in the morning. i have also tried getting him up in the night to go for a wee, but he is in such a deep sleep he just doesnt even register i am trying to wake him. How can i encourage him to not wear a nappy for bed? plus they are starting to leak as he is too big for even size 6 nappies, the biggest i can find. i would really like to hear something from any1! many thanks.

To answer Coleenholmes, I

Submitted by mummymacg on Thu, 03/11/2011 - 19:53.
To answer Coleenholmes, I agree with SAM88MURPHY, I also took my son to the toilet about 2 hours after his bedtime as he began having accidents about 1/2 am. After a few weeks of this he is back to going right through until 7am dry. They are still practicing and feel that there will be hiccups along the way but this definitely works to get them back to dry nights again.

my 4yr old keeps soiling.

Submitted by Coleenholmes on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 14:06.
My 4yr old has started to lose complete interest with going to the toilet day or night and keeps weeing herself though most of the time she poohs on the toilet. She wets herself and continues to play or sit and watch tellie without telling anyone. This is making her sore at times. We have tried absoploutely everything, from rewards to punishments to simply just ignoring it. Butt nothing seems to be working does anyone have any advice who may have experienced this? I am due to have my 2nd child in a matter of weeks and wonder if this could be part of the reason she is soiling herself??

in response to yummymummy3000

Submitted by Coleenholmes on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 13:54.
I agree that children need the ocasoinal smack but not at all in the way u described i can only imagine what that would do the self esteem of ur child. To me thats abusive behaviour make no wonder ur husband doesnt back u up i think what u described is a disgusting way to treat ur child.

to emish, please don't stress

Submitted by lindsayann on Thu, 15/09/2011 - 10:22.
to emish, please don't stress about you child not knowing all the alphabet children learn at different levels,when she goes into reception there will be other children who are at the same level as her and they will all get there in the end, the teachers will support and encourge your child and you may find that once she's got the hang of it there will be no stopping her and everything will click into place.

Coleenholmes - 4yr old daughter!

Submitted by SAM88MURPHY on Tue, 02/08/2011 - 12:06.
To answer Coleenholmes, my little boy has just turned 4 and has just managed to stop having a wee at night time. i used to get him up about 10 o'clock at night and take him for a wee and i did it 4 about 4/5 weeks and it has worked. he hasn't wet the bed now for about a month! hope it helps x

my child is starting reception in september

Submitted by emish on Tue, 19/07/2011 - 20:32.
my little one is starting reception in september. she can not read all the alphabet without my help. what should i do.

time to spank

Submitted by YummyMummy3000 on Sun, 17/07/2011 - 14:56.
I've knownsince before she was born that i should to spank my 4 year old daughter and now I'm ready. I belive I should do it how I was brought up. for example my and my 2 other siblins were fighting. My father made us line up againsted the wall we would have to have our hands on our heads, and trousers and pants around our ankles.Our father would then quickly issue spankings on our bare bottoms one by one. It did hurt like hell but it did work because by the time I was eight I was simply angelic and didn't needed a spanking again. How can I perswade my husband to back me up.

bed wetting

Submitted by Coleenholmes on Wed, 13/07/2011 - 14:27.
My 4yr old daughter is having problems with bed wetting so ive started using bed time pull-ups but im not sure if this is confusing her as they are generally soaking wet each morning and are full. Is there any advice or tips on getting your child toilet trained throughout the night?
 

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