Challenge your child to a race. Mark a start and finish point for the child. Run with him first, and then let him run on his own. If he is running on his own, time how long it takes for him to get from start to finish. This keeps him running the whole way, instead of walking or slowing down the pace.
Take your 4 year old on a hike on easy terrain that won't be too difficult for her to navigate. Teach her to look up and down to as she hikes to view where she's going. Hiking teaches creative footing, as well as coordination.
Teach your child how to jump rope. This may be difficult for him at first. Jumping rope requires focus, rhythm and coordination. Demonstrate how to jump over the rope when it swings at your feet. Go very slowly so he can see what you are doing. Have him stand with you, and let him jump when you jump. Go as slowly as necessary. Let him take the rope and practice swinging the rope himself once he has mastered jumping over the rope with you.
Hold her hand as she walks across a balance beam. The child should be barefoot in order to feel the beam better. Have her look down at first and practice several runs across the balance beam. Watch to see that she is placing one foot in front of the other. Hold her hand as she tries to look straight ahead once she feels comfortable on the beam. Eventually, let go of her hand for a few seconds as she walks across the beam looking straight ahead. This will teach her balance and coordination.
Play catch with a medium-sized bouncy ball. Take turns throwing and catching the ball to one another. Stand no more than 3 feet apart at the beginning. Teach him to catch the ball by opening his arms, then closing them together when the ball gets close to him. Tell him to throw the ball by holding the ball in both hands and toss it up and out toward you. Gradually move farther apart as he gets better.
Have the 4 year old create objects using clay. She can build houses, people, animals or even make numbers. The clay will work the muscles in the hands and fingers, thus making them stronger.
Let him tear up old magazines or paper into tiny pieces. See if he can make shapes as he tears up the paper. This takes focus and may be difficult for the child at first. Demonstrate some shapes he can make. See if he can replicate the shapes.
Have the child string pieces of pasta, such as macaroni, onto thread. She can make necklaces or bracelets while refining her fine motor skills. This activity helps her fingers become more nimble, while teaching him how to focus and aim.
Perform finger plays with the child. Begin by placing one finger puppet on his index finger. Show him how to close the other fingers to form a fist. Do the same with a finger puppet on your finger. Slowly move your finger puppet back and forth and side to side. Ask the child to try the same thing. Let the finger puppets talk and interact with each other. Try placing more finger puppets on his hand once he masters the puppet on his index finger.
Give the child a jumbo-sized pencil and some hand writing practice worksheets or print offs. She needs to trace letters and numbers before attempting to write them on a blank sheet of paper herself. Educator supply stores offer these sheets, or you can find them online. First School offers free printable worksheets for kids to practice tracing and writing on. Demonstrate how to make a letter, and then have the child practice the same movements while tracing the letter. Once she has mastered the movements, let her try it on her own.