From 4 to 5 years old, your child’s gross motor skills (using their arms and legs to move and play) and their fine motor skills (working on crafts and puzzles) are still developing. Play time becomes increasingly imaginative and is an important part of children’s growth. Show
Doctors use certain milestones to tell if a child is developing as expected. There’s a wide range of what is considered normal, so some children gain skills earlier or later than others. Children who were born prematurely reach milestones later in life. Always talk with your doctor about your child’s progress, especially if there are concerns. What can my 4- to 5-year-old child do at this age?As your child continues to grow, you will notice new and exciting abilities that your child develops. While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group: 4-year-olds:
5-year-olds:
What can my 4- to 5-year-old child say?Speech development in children is very exciting for parents as they watch their children become social beings that can interact with others. At this age, a child can usually understand that letters and numbers are symbols of real things and ideas, and that they can be used to tell stories and offer information. Most will know the names and gender of family members and other personal information. They often play with words and make up silly words and stories. 4 and 5-year-olds vocabulary is between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Speech at this age should be completely understandable, although there may be some developmental sound errors and stuttering, particularly among boys. While every child develops speech at his or her own rate, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group: 4-year-olds:
5-year-olds:
What does my 4- to 5-year-old child understand?As a child’s vocabulary increases, so does his/her understanding and awareness of the world around them. Children at this age begin to understand concepts and can compare abstract ideas. While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group: 4-year-olds:
5-year-olds:
Wellness and Fitness MilestonesBy the time kids are 3 to 5 years old, their physical skills, like running, jumping, kicking, and throwing, have come a long way. Now they’ll continue to refine these skills and build on them to learn more complex ones. Take advantage of your child’s natural tendency to be active. Regular physical activity promotes healthy growth and development and learning new skills builds confidence. How active should my child be at this age?Kids at this age are learning to hop, skip and jump forward. They are eager to show off how they can balance on one foot, catch a ball or do a somersault. Preschoolers and kindergarteners also might enjoy swimming, playing on a playground, dancing and riding a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels. Physical activity guidelines recommend that preschoolers and kindergarteners should:
Should my 4- to 5-year-old child participate in sports?Many parents look into organized sports to get 4 and 5-year-olds active. The average preschooler has not mastered the basics, such as throwing, catching and taking turns. Even simple rules may be hard for them to understand, as any parent who has watched their child run the wrong way during a game knows. Starting too young can also be frustrating for kids and may discourage future participation in sports. If you decide to sign your child up for soccer or another team sport, be sure to choose a league that is right for their age and developmental stage. A peewee league that focuses on fun and learning the fundamentals might be great for a child still in preschool. Family Fitness TipsPlaying together, running in the backyard or using playground equipment at a local park can be fun for the entire family. Other activities to try together, or for a group of preschoolers to enjoy, include:
Kids can be active even when they’re indoors. Designate a safe play area and try some active inside games such as:
How long should my 4- to 5-year-old sleep?4 to 5-year-olds should be sleeping around 10-12 hours at night. Those who get enough rest may no longer need a daytime nap and can benefit from some quiet time in the afternoon. This is the age where they might be in preschool or in kindergarten. As they give up naps, they may go to bed at night earlier than they did as toddlers. Check out our guide about Healthy Sleep for Children for more info. Communication MilestonesCommunicating with our kids is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding parts of parenting. Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences not only with us, but with other adults, family members, other kids, and the world. Between the ages of 4 and 5, many kids enter preschool or kindergarten programs, with language skills a key part of learning in the classroom. How does my 4- to 5-year-old child interact with others?A very important part of growing up is the ability to interact and socialize with others. This can be a frustrating transition for the parent as children go through different stages, some of which are not always easy to handle. While every child is unique and will develop different personalities, the following are some of the common behavioral traits that may be present in your child: 4-year-olds can:
5-year-olds can:
Interacting with Your ChildKids learn more through interactive conversation and play. Reading books, singing, playing word games and simply talking to kids will increase their vocabulary while providing increased opportunities to develop listening skills. As kids gain language skills, they also develop their conversational abilities. Kids 4 to 5 years old can follow more complex directions and enthusiastically talk about things they do. They can make up stories, listen attentively to stories and retell stories. Here some ways you can help boost your child’s communication skills:
How can I help increase my preschool child’s social ability?Consider the following as ways to foster your preschool child’s social abilities:
When should I call the doctor?You should talk to your doctor if you suspect your child has a problem with hearing, language skills or speech clarity. A hearing test may be one of the first steps to find out if your child has a hearing problem. Communication problems among kids in this age group include:
Some kids will outgrow these problems. Others might need speech therapy or further evaluation. This is especially important to assess at a young age because some children that have difficulty with communication may get frustrated, angry and even aggressive because they cannot relay their thoughts and feelings clearly. Which developmental language milestone would the nurse expect in a 4Because of developing cognitive abilities, 4-year-old children can form six- to eight-word sentences. Because of expanded experiences and developing cognitive ability, the 4-year-old should have a vocabulary of approximately 150 to 200 words. The use of appropriate grammar does not develop until 9 to 12 years of age.
Which developmental stage would the nurse expect for a preschooler?The answer is A. A preschooler is in the preoperational stage of cognitive development. This stage includes children 2-7 years.
Which should the nurse expect for a toddler's language development at age 18 months?The 18-month-old child has a vocabulary of 10 or more words. At this age, the child does not use the one-word sentences that are characteristic of the 1-year-old child. The child has a limited vocabulary of single words that are comprehensible.
Which developmental milestones with the nurse anticipate for a 15 month old child?At 15-18 months, you can expect curiosity, strong attachments, new words, independent walking, small hand movements and more. Talking and listening, reading, moving, playing outside, working on everyday skills and playing with others are good for toddler development.
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