4 years, 1 month old
Little Explorers at Play
Play ideas, a book, a song and a little encouragement for your 49 month old, from Maddie.
By Maddie, early childhood educator and Mum
5 min read · Updated
In this guide
Hey there, wonderful parent!
Here you are, over four years into this wild adventure. Your little one is growing and exploring at an incredible pace, and doing incredible things; whether it's attentive observations of ants marching outside, grand imaginings that turn the living room into a mighty fortress, or the magic that happens when they turn into princesses, superheroes, ninjas or mums and dads.
The days might feel full (and sometimes quite loud!) especially if there are other siblings, but those everyday explorations, the curious questions and the unexpected eruptions of giggles; these are the heartbeats of learning.
Activity: Ice Rescue Mission
How: Freeze small toys in a container of water. Give your child tools (spoons, warm water, droppers) to “rescue” them.
(Or like our girls do; let them drop them off the balcony, run down and get them and drop them again until the toy is rescued!)
Why:
🧠 Problem-solving and patience
🧪 Early science (melting, temperature)
💪 Fine motor skills
Activity: Roll & Do Game
How: Assign actions to numbers (1 = jump, 2 = spin, 3 = clap, etc.). Roll a dice and do the action. Next game, let them come up with the actions, its fun to see what they think of!
Why:
🔢 Early number recognition
💫 Body control and movement
😄 Keeps it playful and unpredictable
Its also another fun game teaching turn taking, with out the competition of winning and loosing (which may be starting to become a struggle around this age).
At one point, when I was doing a lot of home workouts, we’d use this game to help the girls settle into play. We’d link each number to an exercise, and they absolutely loved it; joining in with push-ups, lunges, and even burpees! It became such a fun way to include them and get everyone moving together 😄
Map Drawing: Go on a Treasure Hunt!
How:
Next time you can’t find something, instead of doing all the searching yourself, get your child involved in making a map of your home!
Start by asking them to draw the rooms, doors and other things they can remember. It doesn’t need to look like your house, children’s maps are often wonderfully imaginative! Choose something to find (a missing toy, book, remote or even a little “treasure”) and let them mark where they think it might be.
Then follow the map together. Let your child be the map reader and treasure-hunt leader, guiding you around the house and deciding where to look next.
You can even make it more exciting by hiding a special treasure for them to find using a map you’ve made together.
Why:
Drawing and following maps helps children develop spatial awareness, memory, problem-solving and early mathematical thinking. They’re learning that pictures and symbols can represent real places and objects, a big step towards understanding how we navigate the world around us.
It also encourages children to plan, communicate and take the lead. And when they’re using their map to solve a real-life problem, the learning feels like play rather than a lesson.
✨ Try this: Once they’ve mastered mapping the house, make a map of the backyard, the local park or even a pretend island with a big X marking the treasure!
Song of the Week: Tiny Tim (I Had a Little Turtle)
I had a little turtle,
His name was Tiny Tim,
I put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
And now he’s in his bed,
With bubbles in his throat…
Bubble, bubble, bubble… POP! 😄
The fun little rhyme, fun actions and the big pop at the end always makes for a cute little song.
It’s simple, silly, and always gets a giggle; perfect for this and any age ✨
Book of the Month: The Gruffalo
Back to the Julia Donaldson collection; they really never get old. And now with the short films that follow along with the books, they become a beautiful extension for the story.
There are so many amazing stories out there, and when you find ones that both you and your child love, just keep reading them. When they lose interest, pop them away for a few months and bring them back; it’s like they’re brand new again. Having a simple book rotation (especially if you have a lot of books works so well for kids. It helps avoid overwhelm from too many choices and makes rediscovering old favorites feel really exciting. If you don't have a book shelf, use a box, or a basket, it doesn't really matter, just somewhere they can get to them independently.
My bookshelf is an old daycare one with great storage shelves at the back, so we keep some books tucked away there. When my eldest is deep in a reading mood, she’ll often pull the shelf out and go searching for something new; ultimately ending up with a huge pile of books around her, happily reading away.
Did You Know?
Around 4 years old, children start to create much more detailed and imaginative play stories; sometimes with full characters, plots, and even “rules” that only they understand!
This kind of play isn’t just fun; it’s helping them build language, problem-solving, and social understanding… all through their own little worlds ✨
Remember
Everyday moments matter more than you know. Whether it's in balancing on a beam or sharing a giggle over a tiny turtle, you’re truly laying the foundation for them with simple presence. Your warmth, encouragement, and those quiet nods of 'you’ve got this' are building blocks for their whole world.
You’re doing beautifully.
Social & Emotional Skill Building
This month, offering choices can be a fun way to engage them. Let them choose the order of bedtime stories, or what activity comes first. Asking, "Which would you like to do next?" empowers them and reinforces their confidence in decision-making.
Their tiny choices validate their voice and can weave in some joyful independence.