The first couple years of your little one's life bring a lot of changes. You've made it through the terrible twos and threes. The next stages bring a whole slew of developments. Here are some milestones to expect during ages four to six.

Physical activity

By this age, your child will be more excited to play with others kids. He or she will participate in physical and social activity from playing ball to engaging in conversation. Your child may be interested in exploring new environments like playgrounds or a friend's house. As a result, he or she will also be more aware of risky and unsafe behavior without having to be told by an adult before.

Independence

Overall, you will notice that your child is much more independent than before. He or she will do things on their own. You don't have to keep an eye on your kid at all times, worrying about what kind of danger will arise. Your kid will engage in more alone time, keeping busy while playing without the need for constant attention. Be sure to support your little one every step of the way to ensure he or she continues to become more independent.

Coordination

You've seen your little one go from crawling to walking, and the moving doesn't stop now. Throughout ages four to six, your child develops a lot more coordination. He or she no longer walks on tip toes but full feet. During this time, your kid can balance more, not tripping over small items in the way. He or she will be able to throw and catch a ball, and engage in other physical activities.

Social skills

During this time, your child will engage more in social settings. He or she is interested in and aware of other people, and maintains eye contact when speaking to someone. Your kid responds when being called and knows to call out someone's name to get his or her attention. Be sure to encourage playtime with other kids of all different ages. This is a prime time to get your little one to exposed to all kinds of people.

Curiosity

Throughout this age range, you may notice that your child is very curious about the world. He or she may respond "Why?" to seemingly everything you say. Try to treat each situation as a learning experience, this age is a time when kids absorb everything around them.

Temper tantrums

You've experienced yelling and crying before, but temper tantrums tend to pick up a little bit more around the age four. Meltdowns can be difficult for the entire family, but they're a part of childhood. Tantrums may happen when kids are tired, hungry or uncomfortable. By age four, your little one knows his or he wants and can vocalize this. However, If kids don't get what they want, emotions take over, and it typically results in a temper tantrum. Dealing with frustration is a skill that children learn over time. This frustration can range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking and hitting.

There are a lot of ways you can deal with these outcries, such as talking it out, ignoring your child until he or she calms down or creating a diversion. Odds are, some of these tactics will work sometimes and others they won't. When it comes to discipline, it's important to remember to be firm and consistent. Over time, your child will learn and adapt. Try to remain as calm as possible, and remember this is a part of growing up. You can't always control your little one, but you can control how you treat each situation.

Keep in mind that not all children are the same - some develop faster than others. Take conscious steps to ensure your little one is always engaging and learning. Allow your child to enjoy each state and try not to worry about what he or she should or shouldn't be doing. If you have concerns or notice extreme delays, contact your pediatrician. He or she can make some recommendations on what steps can be taken.