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General Developmental Sequence
Toddler through Preschool
This page presents typical activities and achievements for
children from two to five years of age. It
is important to keep in mind that the time frames presented
are averages and some children may achieve various
developmental milestones earlier or later than the average
but still be within the normal range.
This
information is presented to help parents understand what to
expect from their child. Any questions you may
have about your child's development should be shared with
his doctor or teacher.
There
are many programs available touting to raise IQ and speed up
child development in general. Research shows that the
key to healthy child development is the amount of time
children spend time with their parents having fun and
learning at the same time. Electronic input for
children of this age should be limited to no more than 2
hours per day (that includes "educational" programs).
Here are some suggestions:
Activities for Toddlers & Parents.
Reading to children develops language skill and pre-reading
skills. You will find these resources on
reading to children
to help you make the most of this special time. Here
is a great
preschool book list.
Children
at this stage also need lots of playtime. This
includes playing alone, with peers and with their parents.
Please see our articles on
"Play the Work of a Child."
Here are suggestions for
Toys & Games
for this crowd. Listening to
music and playing with
musical toys is also great. Finally, get our kids
playing outside as much as possible. Just a couple of
well chosen outdoor play items such as these
Outdoor Fun can lead
to hours of fun, exploration and physical development.
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Physical
Development
Walks
well, goes up and down steps alone,
runs, seats self on chair, becoming
independent in toileting, uses spoon
and fork, imitates circular stroke,
turns pages singly, kicks ball,
attempts to dress self, builds tower
of six cubes.
Emotional
Development
Very Self-centered,
just beginning a sense of personal
identity and belongings, possessive,
often negative, often frustrated, no
ability to choose between
alternatives, enjoys physical
affection, resistive to change,
becoming independent, more
responsive to humor and distraction
than discipline or reason. |
AGE 2
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Social Development
Solitary play, dependent on adult
guidance, plays with dolls, refers
to self by name, socially very
immature, little concept of others
as "people." May respond to
simple direction.
Intellectual Development
Says words, phrases
and simple sentences, 272 words,
understands simple directions,
identifies simple pictures, likes to
look at books, short attention span,
avoids simple hazards, can do simple
form board. |
Physical Development
Runs well, marches,
stands on one foot briefly, rides
tricycle, imitates cross, feeds self
well, puts on shoes and stockings,
unbuttons and buttons, build tower
of 10 cubes. Pours from
pitcher.
Emotional Development
Likes to conform, easy
going attitude, not so resistive to
change, more secure, greater sense
of personal identity, beginning to
be adventuresome, enjoys music.
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Age 3
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Social Development
Parallel play, enjoys being
by others, takes turns, knows if he
is a boy or girl, enjoys brief group
activities requiring no skill, likes
to "help" in small ways--responds to
verbal guidance.
Intellectual Development
Says
short sentences, 896 words, great
growth in communication, tells
simple stories, uses words as tools
of thought, wants to understand
environment, answers questions,
imaginative, may recite few nursery
rhymes |
Physical Development
Skips on one foot,
draws "Man", cuts with scissors (not
well), can wash and dry face, dress
self except ties, standing broad
jump, throws ball overhand, high
motor drive.
Emotional Development
Seems sure of himself, out-of
bounds behavior, often negative, may
be defiant, seems to be testing
himself out, needs controlled
freedom. |
Age 4 |
Social Development
Cooperative play,
enjoys other children's company,
highly social, may play loosely
organized group games - tag,
duck-duck-goose, talkative,
versatile.
Intellectual
Development
Uses complete sentences, 1540
words, asks endless questions,
learning to generalize, highly
imaginative, dramatic, can draw
recognizable simple objects. |
Physical Development
Hops and skips,
dresses without help, good balance
and smoother muscle action, skates,
rides wagon and scooter, prints
simple letters, handedness
established, ties shoes, girls small
muscle development about 1 year
ahead of boys.
Emotional Development
Self-assured, stable,
well-adjusted, home-centered, likes
to associate with mother, capable,
of some self-criticism, enjoys
responsibility. Likes to
follow the rules. |
Age 5
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Social Development
Highly cooperative play, has special
"friends", highly organized, enjoys
simple table games requiring turns
and observing rules, "school", feels
pride clothes and accomplishments,
eager to carry out some
responsibility.
Intellectual Development
2,072 words, tells long tales,
carries out direction well, reads
own name, counts to 10, asks meaning
of words, knows colors, beginning to
know difference between fact and
fiction-lying, interested in
environment, city, stores, etc. |
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