3 - 5 Years of Age

3 Years | 4 Years | 5 Years

3 Years
By now, their vocabulary is much larger and they are able to put 3
and 4 word sentences together.
Have lots of conversations with your child. This will boost his
language skills, and introduce him to the pleasure of conversation
and make him feel important.
Read with your child as often as you can.
Encourage pretend play and get involved.
Make plans for your child to spend time with other children.

Your child should:
* Jump in place.
* Pedal a tricycle.
* Be toilet trained or showing readiness for.
* Know age and sex.
* Count to three.
* Copy circle.
* Pretend play.

4 Years
Promote the child's interaction with other children.
Recognize that the child can participate in setting and cleaning up
the table. Praise him for a job well done.
Recognize that your child can accept and keep an agreement.
Encourage activities that require your child to "figure things out".
Take exploratory walks.
Be aware that your child is ready for card and board games.
If the child is in nursery school, show interest in his daily activities.
Answer your child's questions about sex in as natural a way as possible, without distorting the truth.
Understand that the child's sexual curiosity is normal.
Ensure privacy when your child is dressing, undressing or bathing.
Encourage your child to sleep in his own bed.
Have a bedtime ritual that he can anticipate and enjoy.
Establish a balance between the child's need for independence
and the need for limits.
Provide appropriate and clearly stated limits, along with an
explanation of the consequences when rules are broken.
Be consistent.
Remember the positive effects of praise.

The typical 4 year old child:

* alternates his feet when descending stairs
* hops; jumps forward; stands on one foot for 3-5 seconds
* can climb a ladder
* can ride a tricycle
* holds and uses a pencil with good control
* has the ability to cut and paste
* may name and match 3 or 4 primary colors
* can count from 1 to 10
* enjoys jokes
* washes and dries his hands and brushes his teeth
* can dress and undress with supervision
* is imaginative and intensely curious
* has formed gender identification
* draws a person with a face, arms and legs
* plays cooperatively and shows interest in other children's bodies

Your child still needs close supervision.
Select toys that are safe.
Electrical tools, firearms, matches and poisons should be locked up.
Proper car seat restrains should always be used.
Always watch your child while in or near the water.
Teach your child not to go with strangers.

5 Years
Show affection.
Promote interaction with other children.
Have the child participate in setting the table, cleaning up afterward
and tiding up his own room.
At this age or earlier your child will be curious about where babies
come from and about the differences between boys and girls.
Answer these questions honestly, in simple language and within the
boundaries of the questions.
Demonstrate interest in the child's daily kindergarten activities.

The typical 5 year old:

* skips, can walk on tiptoes, throws a ball overhand
* identifies coins
* may name 4 or 5 colors
* can tell a simple story
* defines at least one word
* knows nursery rhymes
* draws a person with a head, body, arms and legs
* is beginning to understand right and wrong, fair and unfair
* engages in dramatic make-believe and domestic role playing

Your child still needs close supervision.
Your child should not ride a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels in
the street.
Teach your child to swim.
Teach your child what to do in case of fire in the home.
Teach your child his or her name, address and telephone number.
Teach your child not to go with or accept anything from strangers
and to feel free to say "no" to them.