Before you know it, the somewhat calm 3-year-old becomes a dynamo of energy, drive and more out-of-bounds behavior. At the same time, their mind is a font of imaginative ideas. The “monsters” they talk with at school or the “dragon” who helps them across the street are normal tall tales for 4- to 5-year-olds. All of this behavior and thinking will help your child build a secure foundation as they approach kindergarten.
In this article we would be looking at Developmental Milestones: 4 to 5 Year Olds
Here are some other milestones you can look for.
Movement milestones
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Climbs stairs alternating feet without support
- Hops, somersaults
- Swings, climbs
- May be able to hop on one foot
Milestones in hand and finger skills
- Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
- Draws person with at least three body parts
- Prints some letters
- Dresses and undresses without assistance
- Unbuttons and buttons medium-size buttons
- Uses fork and spoon
- Usually cares for own toilet needs
Language milestones
- Recalls part of a story
- Uses four-word sentences
- Uses words that are 100% understandable by strangers
- Uses future tense
- Tells longer stories
- Says name and address
Cognitive milestones
- Can count 10 or more objects
- Correctly names at least four colors
- Better understands the concept of time
- Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)
Social milestones
- Wants to please friends
- Wants to be like her friends
- More likely to agree to rules
- Dresses and undresses without much help
- Engages in well-developed imaginative play
- Brushes teeth
- Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by self
Developmental health watch
Because each child develops in her own particular manner, it’s impossible to predict exactly when or how your own preschooler will perfect a given skill.
The developmental milestones listed here will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older. Don’t be alarmed if their development takes a slightly different course. Talk with your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.
- Shows extremely fearful or timid behavior
- Shows extremely aggressive behavior
- Is unable to separate from parents without major protest
- Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for more than five minutes
- Shows little interest in playing with other children
- Refuses to respond to people in general, or responds only superficially
- Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play
- Seems unhappy or sad much of the time
- Doesn’t engage in a variety of activities
- Avoids or seems aloof with other children and adults
- Doesn’t express a wide range of emotions
- Has trouble eating, sleeping, or using the toilet
- Can’t differentiate between fantasy and reality
- Seems unusually passive
- Cannot understand two-part commands using prepositions (“Put the cup on the table,” for example, or “Get the ball under the couch.”)
- Can’t correctly give their first and last name
- Doesn’t use plurals or past tense properly when speaking
- Doesn’t talk about their daily activities and experiences
- Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks
- Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon
- Has trouble taking off their clothing
- Cannot wash and dry their hands
I hope you find this article helpful as well as as interesting.
