The years between ages 3 and 5 are exciting ones -- for your child and for you. His frame of reference expands exponentially beyond your family and your home. He'll start to make friends and make more sense of the world around him. Expect great leaps in physical, social and cognitive development. You may get more questions than you ever imagined you would. Also be sure your child gets regular checkups with his pediatrician to ensure he is reaching all his developmental milestones.
Physical Abilities
Memories of the mishaps of the "terrible 2s" start to give way to a child deliberately negotiating the world, with new finesse and dexterity. Many child development experts, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, divide these years in setting physical milestones. For example, between ages 3 and 4, your child should be able to balance on one foot, hop, avoid obstacles, push and steer toys, throw and catch a ball, kick, dress and undress. Between ages 4 and 5, he should be able to draw Xs and Os, jump forward, walk up and down stairs and cartwheel. Fine motor skills developed at this stage include using scissors and cutting on a line, copy letters and shape, use a fork and spoon, and take care of himself in the bathroom.
Speaking and Thinking
Your child's sense of imagination and fantasy begin between the ages of 3 and 5. You should encourage as much play and expression as possible to monitor language and cognitive development. Between ages 3 and 4, your child should be talking about activities that happened at school or at friends' homes. A stranger should be able to clearly understand most of what your child says. His sentences should be more than four words, and he should be able to answer simple questions. In the next year or two, practically everything he says should be intelligible to everyone. His vocabulary should expand enough to offer many details when expressing himself. He should be able to tell a story and stay on topic, as well as ask you questions about a story you tell. He should be able to follow a series of simple directions and organize materials. He should know his full name, age, birthday, and address. He should be able to recall the past, understand the future tense, count to 10 and name colors. He should also know the purpose of common household items.
Social Skills
During the ages of 3 to 5, your child will have increasing recognition of people outside your home. He should learn to share toys, show understanding of right and wrong, use words to compare himself to other people and interact with other children. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that between the ages of 3 and 4, your child should be showing interest in having new experiencing and engage in fantasy play, such as pretending to be mom or dad. He may sometimes have trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy -- consequently you might have to make sure there aren't any monsters under the bed. Between ages 4 and 5, you should see him consciously try to make and please friends and imitate them. He may like to sing, dance and act. In general, he'll show a bit more independence, awareness of gender and be able to separate reality from make-believe.
Height and Weight
Many factors will affect your child's height and weight, but generally speaking, his rate of growth during these years should slow down a bit compared to the rapid development of the first three years. At age 3, the median height for girls is 37 1/4 inches and 38 inches for boys, according to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. The median weights are 31 1/4 lbs. for girls and 32 1/4 lbs. for boys. At age 4, the median heights are 40 1/2 and 40 1/4 inches, respectively. The weights are 36 1/4 and 36 1/2 lbs., respectively. At age 5, the heights are 43 and 43 1/4 inches, respectively. The weights are 41 and 41 1/2 lbs., respectively.
Help Your Child
You can support your child's development with a number of activities. Read to him. Let him help with chores. Engage in complete conversation and help him use language appropriately. Model the behavior you expect him to copy. In addition, you should watch for developmental delays. Know that children grow and mature at different rates; if your child hasn't reached a milestone, see your pediatrician to determine if there's cause for concern.
References
- Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund; Growth and Development 3-5 Years; Sunindia Bhalla
- American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones: 3 to 4 Year Olds
- American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones: 4 to 5 Year Olds
- University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension; The 3, 4 and 5-Year-Old: Physical Changes; April 2002
