| As the child approaches the halfway mark in his | | | | off their newfound skills. These skills might include |
| or her fourth year of life, parents can take pride | | | | standing on one foot or riding a tricycle. It is |
| in what they have succeeded in teaching the child | | | | important that parents witness and encourage |
| so far. However, there is still a lot more for the | | | | these skills, so long as they are not dangerous. |
| child to learn in the coming months and years. | | | | This fosters interaction and instills a sense of pride |
| By the age of three-and-a-half, many children are | | | | in the child's accomplishments. |
| engaging in magical thinking. Magical thinking refers | | | | The age of 40 months is a good time to start |
| to the blurred line between fantasy and reality | | | | teaching basic writing skills. Children at this age |
| that exists for many children at this age. At this | | | | love to scribble and to draw, but many of them |
| age, the child tends to assign impossible traits to | | | | are also ready to learn to write their own names. |
| people or things. For instance, the | | | | Parents should encourage but not insist on this |
| three-and-a-half-year-old might believe that he can | | | | behavior. All children develop at different paces; |
| fly or that elephants live in the TV. The process | | | | some kids might not be ready to write at this |
| of distinguishing reality is a long one that will last | | | | age, and they should not feel bad if they are not |
| for the next several years, so parents should | | | | up to the task. Parents of a |
| understand and accept this magical thinking for | | | | three-and-a-half-year-old should focus on the |
| now. | | | | positives and try to teach their child as much as |
| Children at this age are also interested in showing | | | | possible. |