4 year old drawing milestones

Developmental Milestones: 4 to 5 Year Olds

Page Content

What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by four to five years of age?

Before you know it, the somewhat calm child of three becomes a dynamo of energy, drive, bossiness, belligerence, and generally out-of-bounds behavior. You may be reminded of the earlier trials and tribulations you went through when he was two. Also obvious during this time is the tremendous spurt of imaginative ideas that spring from children's minds and mouths. All of this behavior and thinking will help your youngster build a secure foundation as he emerges into the world of kindergarten.

Here are some other milestones to look for.

Movement milestones

Stands on one foot for ten seconds or longer
Hops, somersaults
Swings, climbs
May be able to skip

Milestones in hand and finger skills

Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
Draws person with body
Prints some letters
Dresses and undresses without assistance
Uses fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a table knife
Usually cares for own toilet needs

Language milestones

Recalls part of a story
Speaks sentences of more than five words
Uses future tense
Tells longer stories
Says name and address

Cognitive milestones

Can count ten or more objects
Correctly names at least four colors
Better understands the concept of time
Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)

Social and emotional milestones

Wants to please friends
Wants to be like her friends
More likely to agree to rules
Likes to sing, dance, and act
Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself
Aware of sexuality
Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative

Developmental health watch

Because each child develops in her own particular manner, it's impossible to predict exactly when or how your own preschooler will perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones listed here will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if her development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Exhibits extremely fearful or timid behavior
Exhibits extremely aggressive behavior
Is unable to separate from parents without major protest
Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for more than five minutes
Shows little interest in playing with other children
Refuses to respond to people in general, or responds only superficially
Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play
Seems unhappy or sad much of the time
Doesn't engage in a variety of activities
Avoids or seems aloof with other children and adults
Doesn't express a wide range of emotions
Has trouble eating, sleeping, or using the toilet
Can't differentiate between fantasy and reality
Seems unusually passive
Cannot understand two-part commands using prepositions ("Put the cup on the table"; "Get the ball under the couch.")
Can't correctly give her first and last name
Doesn't use plurals or past tense properly when speaking
Doesn't talk about her daily activities and experiences
Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks
Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon
Has trouble taking off her clothing
Cannot brush her teeth efficiently
Cannot wash and dry her hands

Article Body

Last Updated: 11/2/2009

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.