My Child What to Expect: Your 4 to 5 Year Old
Developmental milestones describe what most children are capable of doing at a particular point in time. Developmental milestones also provide a snapshot of the new skills many children will be starting to master in the upcoming months or year. Knowing what children are capable of, and what they will be practicing, can help you provide appropriate experiences to enhance your child's development. Remember, developmental milestones only provide benchmarks. Each child develops at his or her own pace. So, in any particular child some skills may emerge early, while others may appear later. If you have any concerns about your child's development, consult your child's physician.
Social | | Typically Can:Play games with simple rulesShow attachment to one playmateBegin to grasp the concept of sharingShow interest in sex differences, and may undress with other childrenEnjoy dramatic play with othersPick up other children's habitsStop napping | | Emerging Skills:Showing concern for a younger or hurt personBeing a team leaderPlaying cooperatively in a group |
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Problem Solving | | Typically Can:Distinguish something alive from an objectBegin to understand the difference between reality and fantasyUnderstand how to sort and classify objects by characteristicsBegin to match pictures in simple lotto gamesRecognize and identify "bigger," "biggest," "small" and "smallest"Recall events in the pastIdentify and name different coloursReplicate patterns, sequences and orderRecognize and point to six common shapes, for example, a triangle and a starExperiment with cause and effect | | Emerging Skills:Showing interest in written words and lettersUnderstanding concepts of texture, weight, position and spaceBuilding large structures from blocks |
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Numeracy | | Typically Can:Understand "nearest" and "longest"Understand the concept of more and lessUnderstand the ordering of numbersBegin to understand the directional position of numbers, and try to print numbersUnderstand simple adding and subtracting (for example, "There are two balloons and one flies away - how many are left?")Understand the concept of a calendarIdentify "more" or "less"Understand "parts" and "whole" and "half" | | Emerging Skills:Understanding number concepts up to 10Understanding different forms of measurement - weight, height, length |
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Language | | Typically Can:Play with words in silly rhymesUse new and unfamiliar wordsUnderstand complete sentencesUse correct grammatical structureUse an average vocabulary of 1 500 words, with about five words in a sentenceTalk about imaginary conditionsUse negatives, for example, "I don't want to go"Understand "on top of" and "under"Carry a tune | | Emerging Skills:Asking questions with "why" and "how"Reciting a nursery rhyme or singing a songUsing past, present and future verbs, such as "talked," "talk," and "will talk"Understanding "top," "middle," and "bottom"Being 80% understandable to people outside the familySaying most speech sounds accurately |
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Emotional | | Typically Can:Use pretend play to gain control of frustrating and frightening experiencesPlay out adult roles in playControl frustration and anger much betterExperience positive self-esteem and feel good about himself and what he doesTalk about feelings such as hunger, tiredness and illnessComply with requests from parents a greater percentage of the timeConcentrate for up to 20 minutesShow strong interest and feelings for familyPersevere on a difficult task for longer | | Emerging Skills:Showing a desire to fit into routines of homeCarrying out small chores to fit into the family and be responsibleShowing self-reflection, for example, "What I said isn't nice"Understanding and having positive and negative feelings about another person |
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Gross Motor | | Typically Can:Walk on tiptoes for three metresBalance on a walking boardRide a tricycle without bumping into thingsEnjoy throwing and catching gamesMove to music in rhythmToss bean bags into holes in targetsCarry out rudimentary galloping | | Emerging Skills:Bouncing on a trampolineWalking up and down stairs, alternating feet without supportJumping down from a half-metre height |
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Fine Motor | | Typically Can:Put large and simple jigsaws togetherCut with children's scissorsPaint with a large brush on large paperManipulate clayDraw a person with three parts | | Emerging Skills:Cutting on a line with scissorsCarrying a cup without spilling the liquid in itStringing small beads to make a necklaceCopying the letter "V," "H" and "T" |
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