Last year, I’ll admit, I was completely ready to say goodbye to age 3. It was pretty rough. That’s why I created my 3 Things to Love About 3-Year-Olds post, as a way to focus on the positive. Well, I’m not so happy to say goodbye to 4 – this year was pretty awesome – but I decided to make the list a tradition.
The nice thing is that all those things I loved about Miss O as a 3-year-old are still true, plus a few more! Not that we didn’t have our moments of frustration. We had to tweak our bedtime routine because she learned the art of stalling. We learned about managing a sensitive child when we had to rearrange our weekday schedule for dance class. And we had our fair share of meltdowns!
But through it all, I could see my sweet girl’s personality emerging. And, she’s pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.
So here’s this year’s list of things to love.
Giving nature.
This Dory plush was one of the few things Miss O asked for this Christmas. She was obviously excited when she got it! Yet only a few days later she said she wanted to bring Dory to her friend and give it to her. When I asked why, she said, “Because I love Dory, and I love [my friend]!” Awwww. Is there anything sweeter than that?
Adventurous spirit.
She’s given me more than a few moments of panic, but this girl is one tough chick. She might be small, but she is mighty! And once I learned to step back and let her do her thing, I learned that she is a pretty capable kid.
Self expression.
At age 4, Miss O has a better understanding of her emotions, which is why she’s less… volatile. She recognizes being tired and will go take a nap. She will tell me when she’s angry at me, and that she loves me. And now that we know she’s a sensitive child (rather than anxious or shy), we’re all getting better at knowing how to help her find her happy place.
Creativity.
Nope, that’s not a Mega Blocks package on her head. It’s an astronaut helmet. (And there’s no need to call DCF. She was always in my sight.) To her, an empty box is a castle, or a soccer goal, or a hiding spot. She can paint for hours, and tell stories about the pictures she makes. Her imagination truly knows no bounds.
What are your favorite things about 4-year-olds? Share in the comments.
