Providing quality preschool requires knowledge of the developmental milestones
Date :
Friday, October 16 2009
Source:
Autourina Mains
Preschool age is a transitioning age where the toddler begins to master some skills as well continues to develop new skills. The preschooler is developing strong language skills, refining motor skills and developing social skills like problem solving and bargaining. Developmental milestones can serve as a guideline in helping your child continue development. Never compare your child with another child as each child develops at his/her own pace. Developmental milestones are only a general guideline.
4-5 year-olds
Small and large motor
- Is able to balance on one foot, hop and skip
- Stairs are not a challenge at all and is able to go upstairs and downstairs without support
- Enjoys playing with ball and is able to kick ball forward, throw ball overhead and Catch bounced ball
- Fine motor skills are more developed and is able to hold a pencils, copies square shapes, draw a person with two to four body parts, use scissors and, begins to copy some capital letters
Cognitive
- Correctly names some colors
- Math skills developing and she is able to count and recognize numbers
- Problem solving ability is developing though it may be one sided only
- Should be able to follow three-part commands
- When told a story or read to, can recall parts of a story
- Understands the concepts of “same” and “different”
- Likes fantasy play and may spend a lot of time in the drama area (house area)
Language
- Has mastered some basic rules of grammar and is able to tell stories, and speak in clear sentences of five to six words
- Says name and address
Social/emotional
- Wants to please adults and friends
- Has learned to cooperate with other children, make friends and engages in cooperative play (I am the mom, you are the dad) and is able to negotiate solutions to conflicts
- Is more independent and able to dress and undress self
- Views self as a whole person involving body, mind, and feelings
- Often cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality and some unfamiliar images may be “monsters”
More willing to play games that have rules and may create rules for games