Children from 3-5 (preschool age) need to develop the following skills:
Social skills:
- At age 3 a child is starting to play cooperatively with other children. They can take part in structured games, remember rhymes and songs. They are learning to share and make real friends.
- At 4 years old make believe begins to take the form of real life (play house, play store, restaurant play, school). 4 year olds will often choose a best friend and is strongly influenced by their friends. They are also learning about rules and understanding them.
- For the five year old independence is the order of the day! They love having responsibility so chores and other activities are great. Positive reinforcement is a key factor for the self esteem of the five year old.
- 3 year olds walk in an adult manner, quickly moves around obstacles, climbs ladders, uses slides alone, pedals. For fine motor skills the three year old does puzzles, finger paints, molds with clay, stacks blocks and makes shapes with a crayon or pencil.
- 4 year olds have more controlled running and walking. They can easily hop on one foot and catch, throw and bounce a ball. They can also take care of simple self grooming.
- 5 year olds fine tune their motor skills in almost everything they do. They are always climbing, jumping, skipping, playing in general and even balancing on curbs. They are growing fast and need many vitamins and minerals so they don't become vitamin deficient.
Language and Thought Processes:
- Three year olds speak sentences. They are usually about three to five words long. Can do puzzles that require matching pictures and shapes. Learns through hands on experience. Grasps time: now, later, before and soon. Put together the cause and effect of things.
- Four year olds have increased sentence structure where they combine thoughts and ideas. They think literally and start thinking logically. A 4 year old understands that symbols and pictures relate to real things (or represent them). They begin to know the difference between real and "make believe".
- Five year olds are more analytical than ever. They love more complex and abstract problem solving. The five year old loves conversation and taking their turn to speak in group settings. The vocabulary is increasing at a rapid speed.
Keep in mind that the rate at which children develop in any category varies. These are basic and broad milestones and preschool age characteristics. If you have any doubts about your child's development you should consult with your pediatrician.
