Developmental Milestones by the End of 5 Years

Movement

• Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
• Hops, somersaults
• Swings, climbs
• May be able to skip

Hand and Finger Skills

• Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
• Draws person with body
• Prints some letters
• Dresses and undresses without assistance
• Uses fork, spoon and (sometimes) a table knife
• Usually cares for own toilet needs

Language

• Recalls part of a story
• Speaks sentences of more than five words
• 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

• Wants to please friends
• Wants to be like her friends
• More likely to agree to rules
• Likes to sing, dance and act
• Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself

Emotional Milestones

• Aware of sexuality
• Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
• Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative

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 will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if her development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

• Exhibits extremely fearful or timid behavior
• Exhibits 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"; "Get the ball under the couch.")
• Can't correctly give her first and last name
• Doesn't use plurals or past tense properly when speaking
• Doesn't talk about her daily activities and experiences
• Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks
• Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon
• Has trouble taking off clothing
• Cannot brush her teeth efficiently
• Cannot wash and dry her hands

Excerpted from Caring for Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, Bantam 1999