Work with your four-year-old child in activities, such as using crayons to color in a coloring book, putting together simple puzzles or building block towers. Using his fingers to manipulate items will increase the fine motor skills in his hands.
Jump rope, skip along the sidewalk or have foot races with your child. These activities help develop gross motor skills (the ability to use large muscles).
Encourage your child to participate in play with other four-year-old children. Playing with peers near his stage of development will cause him to automatically strengthen his motor skills. Four-year-old children tend to stay busy all the time and never seem to stop moving; thus, these activities will help build muscle coordination and strength.
Work with your child if he is not able to dress and undress himself. Most four-year-olds should be able to master this process. Helping your child with this skill will make him feel like a big kid and give him more confidence to try other things.
Create songs that will help your child master cognitive milestones during his fourth year. Songs about counting to 10, naming everyday items in the home or pointing out colors of objects will all help him develop these skills.
Clock how long it takes you and your child to walk around the block, set the table or read a storybook. Most four-year-olds are starting to grasp the concept of time at this age.
Play word games, such as rhyming and mimicking funny sounds to each other. These types of games will encourage the growth of cognitive skills.