Invest in Kids - For Parents

Your Child From 4� to 5� Years
From Observer to Explorer: The Most Important Developmental Achievements

SOCIAL		COGNITIVE
Typically Can:		Typically Can:
	Play cooperatively with 2 - 5 children		Think out plan before making something
	Enjoy going visiting		Name a coin correctly
	Be quite competitive		Count objects past 10
	Enjoy group play and circle time		Attend to an activity for up to 20 minutes if interested
	Become embarrassed to be seen nude		Remember a play theme overnight
	Make friends easily		Name 5 colours
	Show social skills of giving, sharing and receiving		Remember stories and TV jingles
	Show concern for children in distress		Distinguish between 3 to 4 sizes
			Maintain mood of calm and quiet much of the time
			Sort objects by colour, shape, size
Emerging Skills:		Emerging Skills:
	Develop an interest in team sports and activities		Understand number concepts
	Has sleepovers with friends		Write numbers up to 5 and some letters
	Begin to plan social times with friends		Understand calendar and clock
			Put things in categories
			Know days of week, months, seasons
			Remember past events more clearly
			Spell out very simple words

LANGUAGE		EMOTIONAL
Typically Can:		Typically Can:
	Use vocabulary of 2200 to 3000 words		Be industrious, and enjoy being busy making things
	Enjoy using big words		Exhibit more confidence, and self-assurance than last year
	Remember name and address		Accept authority, ask permission and respect rules
	Use speech fluently and with grammatical correctness		Ask to marry opposite sex parent
	Use sentence of at least 5-6 words		Begin to feel shame and guilt if he/she disobeys
	Be 90% understandable to strangers		Loves to giggle and tell jokes and riddles
			Is aware of rules and tells others about them
			Will integrate negative and positive views of self and others
			Will have bad dreams and nightmares
Emerging Skills:		Emerging Skills:
	Remember birthday		Develop an interest in team sports and activities
	Understand left and right		Has sleepovers with friends
			Begin to plan social times with friends

GROSS MOTOR		FINE MOTOR
Typically Can:		Typically Can:
	Use adult-like posture to throw and catch a ball		Draw a person with most parts included
	Walk up and downstairs alternating feet without support		Copy square, circle and rectangle
	Broad jump up to 3 feet		Imitate building of 10 cube steps
	Skip on both feet or gallop		Do 7 - 8 piece puzzle
	Walk along 2 inch balance beam		Hold pencil between thumb and forefinger
	Throw a small ball 19 feet		Use same hand consistently
	Jump to touch something		Draw letters and numbers
	Jump a 12 inch hurdle		Cut and paste
	Balance on either foot		Wash hands and face
	Run on tiptoes		Dress if has plenty of time
			Print name
			Self-feed with little mess using fork and spoon
Emerging Skills:		Emerging Skills:
	Hop distance of 50 feet		Tie shoelaces and bows
	Accompany music with body movement (slow, heavy, soft, like a bear)		Do up buttons and fasteners
	Touch toes without bending knees		Copy triangle
ACTIVITIES AND GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD: Activities that encourage exploration such as cooking provide opportunities for children to experiment with different materials. Talk to them about the changes that occur. Keep a creative box of scrap odds and ends, crayons, glue and give your child the chance to be creative. Games such as "I Spy" and tag have simple rules and allow turn-taking opportunities. Letter and number games can be a fun part of daily routines. These can be an ideal opportunity to foster your child's understanding of numbers and letters. For instance, count the number of settings at the table, or identify words that start with the first letter of his/her name.

For more information please call 1-877-583-KIDS.

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