Preschool Tips

Your Child at Five Years Old

This is a brief summary of what to expect for a five-year-old's development. If you have any specific concerns or questions, you should address those with your child's pediatrician.

Physical Development

• assists with making own bed


• colors within the lines


• ties own shoes


• jumps rope

Social Development

• is aware of gender


• separates fantasy from reality


• comforts friends and others when they are sad


• understands there are rules when playing games


• expresses feelings


• wants to please friends


• wants to be like friends


• agrees to rules


• likes to sing, dance, and act


• shows more independence

Cognitive Development

• uses past, present, and future tenses correctly


• groups similar objects together


• understands the idea of today, tomorrow, and yesterday


• identifies most letters and numbers


• retells a story from a picture book

Sleep

Five year olds still need lots of sleep and many will still take a nap. During the school year, bedtime should be strictly enforced to ensure your child gets enough sleep, usually no later than 8pm.

Nutrition

Keep children healthy by encouraging them to eat a variety of foods, get regular exercise, and choose a diet with plenty of grains, vegetables, fruits, and vitamins to meet their growing body's requirements.

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Your Child at Four Years Old

This is a brief summary of what to expect for a four-year-old's development. If you have any specific concerns or questions, you should address those with your child's pediatrician.

Physical Development

• walks backwards


• jumps forward many times


• somersaults


• walks up and down stairs


• uses safety scissors


• cuts on line


• copies squares and crosses


• prints a few capital letters


• draws a person

Social Development

• enjoys playing with other children


• takes turns and shares


• seeks out adult approval


• understands and obeys simple rules


• likes to talk and carries on conversations


• understands jealousy


• fears the dark and monsters


• begins to understand danger


• has difficulty separating make-believe from reality


• feels anger and frustration and may still throw tantrums


• enjoys pretending, creates imaginary playmates

Cognitive Development

• groups and matches objects


• organizes materials


• asks "why" and "how"


• tells own name and age


• pays attention for longer periods of time


• learns by watching and listening


• shows awareness of past and present


• follows a series of two to four directions


• uses words out of context


• points to and names colors


• understands order and process


• counts to five


• knows the name of their street and town

Sleep

Four year olds need at least 12 hours of sleep per day. Some children will still take a short nap in the afternoon, while others may have given up napping altogether. It is common for children this age to resist sleep, and to get out of bed at night with various excuses not to go to sleep.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition includes three meals a day, with two nutritious snacks. Limit high sugar and high fat foods, and encourage healthy choices of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low fat dairy products.

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Your Child at Three Years Old

This is a brief summary of what to expect for a three-year-old's development. If you have any specific concerns or questions, you should address those with your child's pediatrician.

Physical Development

• throws and kicks balls


• begins to copy capital letters


• draws circles and squares


• dresses and undresses self

Social Development

• engages in pretend play


• cooperates with other children


• looks for ways to solve problems

Cognitive Development

• identifies "same" and "different"


• speaks in short sentences


• tells and remembers parts of stories

Sleep

At some point between the ages of 3 and 4, children commonly give up their afternoon nap. This means they will need to go to bed earlier to compensate for the lost sleep. Children this age need anywhere from 9-13 hours of sleep each day.

Nutrition

At this age, your child's eating habits should be similar to your own, eating the same foods at the same times. Choking is still considered a hazard because your child has not yet mastered chewing and swallowing.

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Make Your Own Bubbles!

All preschoolers love bubbles, and it is very simple to make your own. Here are the ingredients:

1/2 gallon of water

1/2 cup of Dawn or Joy dishwashing liquid

1/4 cup of glycerine

Mix the ingredients together in a wide container being careful not to make foam. If the solution becomes too foamy, wait a few minutes to allow it to settle. When you are finished, store the solution in a sealed container. The solution will get better with time.

Glycerine, or glycerin, can usually be found in most drug stores. It is essential to prevent the bubbles from breaking too quickly. If it is not available, try adding 1/4 cup of corn syrup or 1 tbsp of sugar to the solution instead.

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Harold and the Purple Crayon

Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson

This is a delightful story that will encorage your preschooler to use his imagination. Harold begins with a purple crayon and draws his surroundings as he builds the story. Starting with a moon, Harold continues his imaginative and enchanting adventure by falling in the ocean, climbing a mountain, riding in a hot air ballon, and much , much more. After reading the story, try asking your preschooler to draw his own adventure (with a little help, if needed). It is guaranteed to get his creative juices flowing!

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