Final answer:
A social milestone for a 4-year-old preschooler includes cooperative play with others, the ability to share, and separation from parents with little anxiety, signaling growing independence and confidence. They are also curious, often asking questions, and understand basic time concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Milestone for a 4-Year-Old Preschooler
At the age of 4, preschoolers are developing a range of social and cognitive skills that mark important milestones in their growth. They display increased social behavior, such as playing cooperatively with other children, sharing when asked, and being able to separate from parents with minimal anxiety. These behaviors show that children are gaining autonomy, initiating tasks, and carrying out plans with a positive sense of self. With regard to cognitive development, 4-year-olds are curious, asking numerous questions, and begin to grasp basic concepts of time like before and after.
Physically, they can handle objects with more control, demonstrated by a tripod grasp on a crayon. Furthermore, children at this age are becoming more independent as most are toilet trained and can perform tasks such as climbing stairs one foot per step.
Erik Erikson's theory indicates that the successful resolution of the initiative versus guilt stage leads to a feeling of purpose and self-confidence in preschoolers. This social milestone is significant for their emotional and psychological development, bolstering their confidence and readiness for subsequent stages of development.