Is my 4-year-old’s play typical for their age?

As children commence 4-year-old kindergarten, their ability to engage with peers develops further. They begin to engage in ‘cooperative play’ in which they share mutual goals in the play and are assigned certain roles.

Children at this stage are interested not only in the play activity, but also in the children they are playing with. Play themes start to extend beyond their own experience (e.g. an astronaut going to outer space) and are more imaginative in nature. They might begin to take on role-play games, such as playing ‘doctor’ or ‘mums and dads’. Children of this age are also able to play some games with simple rules, such as hide-and-seek. 

If you have concerns about your child’s play skills, a good source of advice is their kindergarten teacher, who understands the typical development of children their age. Alternatively, your Maternal Child and Health Nurse or GP can assist and of course, the team at CCD are always able to help!

Olivia Smith is an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist and is a strong believer in the importance of working collaboratively with families and other professionals to ensure a holistic approach to child wellbeing. She is passionate about advocating for and working with children presenting with anxiety and/or neurodiversity (e.g. ASD, ADHD and specific learning disorders) and their families. Olivia strives to make therapy sessions engaging, effective and applicable to everyday life, and views the relationship between child and therapist as key to success.

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