Texas Health and Human Services / Texas Health Steps
Interactive Anticipatory Guidance Provider Guide
Early Childhood icon

4-Year Checkup

  • Family Well-Being
    • Keep a usual family routine
    • Make one-on-one time for each child in family
    • Advocate with preschool teacher for child facing school difficulties or bullying
  • Keeping Child Safe
    • Do not shake or hit child
    • Choose safe, quality after-school care
    • Keep child in front-facing car seat with harness in back seat until the child meets the height and weight limit set by seat maker
    • Supervise when child is in or near water, even if child knows how to swim
    • Ensure home is safe from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazards
    • Develop family plan for exiting house in a fire and establish meeting place after exit
    • Assess home for lead exposure
    • Lock up guns
    • Teach child home address, telephone numbers and names of parents/ guardians
    • Teach child how to answer the door and telephone
    • Teach self-safety for personal privacy
    • Teach street safety including not running after balls and not crossing street alone
    • Require wearing a helmet when child rides tricycle or bicycle
  • Healthy Feeding
    • Provide three nutritious meals and two snacks a day
    • Limit sweets and high-fat foods
  • Regular Care and Routines
    • Assist with brushing teeth with soft toothbrush two times a day
    • Establish a consistent bedtime routine
    • Encourage supervised outdoor play
  • Healthy Development
    • Establish consistent limits, rules and consequences
    • Establish daily chores to develop sense of accomplishment and self-confidence
    • Encourage child to tell the story his or her way
    • Limit TV and screen time to one to two hours a day
    • Show affection and praise for good behaviors
    • Encourage constructive conflict resolution and demonstrate at home
    • Encourage self-dressing and allow to choose own clothing sometimes
    • Read a story and discuss books daily