|
|
 Developmental
Milestones
What
are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by four to
five years of age?
Before you
know it, the somewhat calm child of three becomes a dynamo of energy, drive,
bossiness, belligerence, and generally out-of-bounds behavior. You may be
reminded of the earlier trials and tribulations you went through when he was
two. Also obvious during this time is the tremendous spurt of imaginative
ideas that spring from children’s minds and mouths. All of this behavior and
thinking will help your youngster build a secure foundation as he emerges
into the world of kindergarten.
Here are
some other milestones to look for.
Movement
milestones
Milestones
in 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
-
Can count
ten 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 and emotional
milestones
-
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
-
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 listed in this book 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 her clothing
-
Cannot
brush her teeth efficiently
-
Cannot
wash and dry her hands
Published online: 6/07
Source:
Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright
© 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 5/05)
To order a copy of this book visit the AAP
Bookstore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained
in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care
and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
|
|
|
