Alex just turned 4 last week... and I wanted to write about her milestone achievement so far. There's so much to write as she has grown quite a bit the past months. This was half year ago. What is the best time to write about her achievement then now, just after she hit 4. As usual, I am using Baby Center to guide me in my children milestone growth.
Cognitive Development
Talking Milestone
- When she was small, we were asking ourself, why is she not talking yet? She only wants to talk a word or 2. Now... it's so hard to talk to each other, especially in the car as she also wants to talk or she said we are 'noisy' and then ask us to be quiet. Looks who she is imitating? Me!
- With her expansion of word every day, due to exposure and learning from school she is able to make up stories, sing songs that she remembered from school and also starts to tell people what happened, like mummy beat her! Ya, it happened that she didn't keep her toys and the living room was scattered with the toys. I got a bit angry and beat her saying why after play, don't keep her toys. Later, when her daddy came down from shower, she told daddy, "Mummy beat me." This is the first time she relates to anyone something that happened, especially to her.
- Other then make-up stories, she can also do a "resemblance". Eg. I told her, "Your school pants is yellow like banana". She laughed, repeat it then looked at my pants. "Mummy, your pants is brown, like a coconut. Haha...coconut!"
Learning and Solving Problem
- Very 'pro' in doing her jigsaw puzzle, as she does it many times already. She can re-do her jigsaw puzzle the same one a few times without getting bored.
- Learning some addition already, very simple ones like 1+1, 2+1, 2+2. It was quite easy to teach her as we have a book on addition, a really colourful book. Can count backwards too from 10 to 0.
- Already expert in removing her clothes and wearing them. She has slight problem with singlet as well as spaghetti t-shirt as the holes are all generally the same (neck and the 2 arms). Other then that....also wants to choose her own clothes.
Social & Emotional Development
- Sometimes, share her toys with Jon. But, we have to keep reminding her or else she gets excited and wants the toy all to herself.
- Can play with new friends she 'found' while playing in the playground.
- Weekend, she doesn't want to go to her poh-poh's house. Her papa's technique is to let her know that if she is good and stay at poh-poh's house while mummy and papa run some errands, she will be rewarded with playground and cake, she willingly goes into the house, even though if u turn back u can see her pouting a bit. Well, at least she is not wailing.
- Every toys and books that is really interesting in the supermarket, she wants! Ya, I think she has reached the age where she wants to buy anything and everything in the supermarket. As parents, we put a stern feet down, only buy necessary items and toys for special occasions, not every time we go shopping.
Speech and Language Development
- Alex is slow at talking, actually both our children are slow in talking. BUT, when she knows how to talk... can she talk! Now, she is always telling us this and that, asking lots of the "why" questions and when we are not listening to her, she will say, "Mummy, I am talking to you"
- I believe she has learn about 1000+ words, but at times, tend to follow her ti-ti talk...do the baby talk. I don't encourage this and will ask her to stop, or else mummy doesn't understand what she is saying.
- We let the children watch tv or listen to music the the car. Alex loves to sing in the car, following the songs from the CD. At times, she will be singing another song, different from those played on the CD. I guess she has some of her favourites.
On her physical development, she has grown about an inch to 94cm (small frame girl), and weighing only 12kg. But definitely growing in every aspect.
