Milestones of Preschooler

Date : Friday, March 13 2009
Source: Department of Workforce Services

All children grow and develop at different rates. Even children from the same family master skills at different times. Developmental milestones are typically sequential markers that children usually master as they grow and develop. These milestones have wide windows of opportunity; for example, most children learn to walk between 9 and 15 months of age. The most important thing to remember is that each child is unique and will develop at his own pace. If you have questions regarding your child’s development, Wyoming offers free developmental screenings for children birth through five years of age. These screenings are provided at child development centers located in most Wyoming communities. Additional information regarding these resources may be found in the Resources Section, Websites.

Language

Your three year old preschooler’s language is becoming increasingly more complex, and his speech is usually understood by others. He is starting to ask more questions and to use verbs that end in “ing.” His sentences are generally made up of three to four words, and he has a vocabulary of about 800 to 1,000 words.

Your four year old preschooler asks lots of questions.  She can usually provide her name, age and sex. She can easily follow familiar directions with two steps, and she understands basic position concepts such as “behind” and “next to.” Her sentences are typically four to five words in length and include past tense verbs.

Your five year old preschooler probably understands more than 1,500 to 2,000 words, and he generally speaks fluently with few mispronunciations. He can usually follow unfamiliar directions with three steps. In addition to his name, age and sex, he can typically provide his address and/or phone number. His sentences are more complex and can be up to six or more words in length.

Cognitive

Your three year old child continues to learn primarily through active exploration. He enjoys books and loves to have you read to him. He can usually attend to an activity for 5 to 10 minutes. He knows several parts of his body and can identify big and small objects.

Your four year old preschooler can generally complete a five piece puzzle and is beginning simple counting. She can name a circle, square and triangle, and she can sort objects according to color or shape.

Your five year old child can usually name six basic colors. He generally understands time sequences and can tell what happened first, second and third. He is also beginning to understand the concept of rhyming words. He can copy simple repeating patterns such as red block-red block-green block, red block-red block-green block.

Motor

Your preschooler can usually pedal a tricycle by three years of age. He climbs stairs by placing both feet on each step, and he jumps with both feet off the ground. He can kick a large ball, throw overhand with limited aim and catch a large ball. He is beginning to hold a crayon using his first two fingers and his thumb, and he can usually copy a circle and a cross. Most three year olds can build a tower with six to eight blocks.

Your four year old preschooler typically walks up and down stairs alternating feet. She can both hop and stand on one foot, and she can throw/catch a medium ball. Four year olds basically hold crayons with good control and color within the lines. Children this age can typically build a tower with ten or more blocks and string wooden beads.

Your five year old can usually copy his first name, and he can now copy a square. His drawing of a person is easily recognizable. He demonstrates good control of a pencil, and he can cut on a line with child safe scissors (although not perfectly). Five year olds can are learning to skip, and they can balance on either foot for about ten seconds.

Social Emotional

Your three year old child’s self help skills and sense of self are continuing to grow. He feeds himself with some spilling, and he can wash his hands and brush his teeth with assistance. He is basically toilet trained and usually dry at night. He is beginning to share toys and take turns with assistance.

Four year old children begin to interact more with friends. She dresses and undresses herself with the exception of laces and some zippers. She typically eats with a fork and spoon and has generally stopped sucking her thumb. She is beginning to develop a growing awareness of other people’s feelings.

Most five year olds enjoy selecting their own playmates, and their dramatic or pretend play has become more complex. They begin to participate in organized games with friends, and they participate in more group activities. He is typically protective of younger children and of pets and has an awareness of other people’s feelings. He enjoys serving his own food and is beginning to learn to tie his shoes.