All the DAZE Productions: Child Development

Child Development

Children develop intellectually, physically and socially, step by step, in a progressive manner. Skills are
learned gradually as a child moves through the stages of development. In order to provide an age
appropriate program with activities that enhance the numerous stages of growth and development in
children, the adult should have a good understanding of where the child is coming from, where the child
is at currently, and where he or she is heading in the near future, developmentally.

The following information will provide a basic overview of patterns of development in the growing child.

The 5 Year Old Child
The five year old child is very sociable. They thrilled to play friends, or with a "best friend." They have
tons of energy, and need it for dressing up, building, pretending, riding, and running. Imagination drives
much of their play - a five year old can imagine that a pine cone is an enchanted jewel, that a twig is a
potential magic wand.

Your child is developing many new skills. Perhaps she can ride a trike, or even a tiny two-wheeler, with
confidence. She can use scissors and other handy gadgets for her projects and crafts. She comes up
with interesting questions about the world around her. And when your five year old asks why, it won't be
an idle inquiry - she'll want to know the answer because her ability to understand and remember your
explanations is growing in leaps and bounds.

She also likes to be with you, helping out with little jobs, sharing jokes and stories. In a way, this is a
special time for parents. A five year old focus is still firmly on her home and family - the allure and
excitement of school, friends and outside activities are yet to come. Enjoy!

Patterns of Development
Begin to assert their autonomy. They may openly challenge parents or authority figures by saying
“Make me!”.

Can have defiant and aggressive behavior, but still feel indecisive. An emotional outburst may escalate
beyond the child’s control.

Are learning social graces and manners. But, they still talk with their mouth full of food, suck their thumb,
pick their nose or bite their nails.

Have difficulty admitting that they have done anything wrong. They may take things that don’t belong to
them.

Are able to dress themselves, but may not want to!

Enjoys riddles and jokes

enjoys creating and telling stories

has good attention span and can concentrate well

loves to learn

able to dress self with little assistance

increased gross motor skills such as: skipping rope, throwing ball overhead, catching bounced balls,
running, galloping, hopping, tumbling, running on tiptoe

interested in performing tricks like standing on head, performing dance steps

capable of learning complex body coordination skills like swimming, ice or roller skating, and riding
bicycles

may be able to tie shoelaces

Has increased poise and coordination

invents games with simple rules

can take turns and share, but doesn't always want to

expresses anger and jealousy physically

likes to test muscular strength and motor skills, but is not emotionally ready for competition

likes to try new things and take risks

likes to make own decisions

likes to feel grown up

plays contentedly and independently without constant supervision

understands and respects rules - often asks permission

sometimes critical of other children and embarrassed by own mistakes

Cognitive Development
• understands about 13,000 words
• has a rapidly expanding vocabulary
• uses 5-8 words in a sentence
• likes to argue and reason; use words like "because"
• knows basic colors like red, yellow, blue, green, orange
• able to memorize address and phone number
• understands that stories have a beginning, middle, and end
• able to remember stories and repeat them
• enjoys creating and telling stories
• understands that books are read from left to right, top to bottom
• enjoys riddles and jokes
• draws pictures that represent animals, people, and objects
• enjoys tracing or copying letters
• can place objects in order from shortest to tallest
• can understand and use comparative terms like big, bigger, or biggest
• sorts objects by size
• identifies some letters of the alphabet and a few numbers (if taught)
• understands "more," "less," and "same"
• counts up to 10 objects
• recognizes categories ("These are all animals; these are all toys.")
• understands before and after, above, and below
• block and dramatic play is much more elaborate and complex
• has good attention span and can concentrate well
• is project minded - plans buildings, play scenarios, and drawings
• interested in cause and effect
• can understand time concepts like yesterday, today, and tomorrow
• Knows full name, address and age
• Loves to learn
• Can usually separate fact from fantasy

Language Development
Receptive Language : 4-5 years
Children in this age range enjoy stories and can answer simple questions about them. He or she hears
and understands nearly everything that is said to them at home or at preschool or day care. Your child's
ability to hear properly all the time should not be in doubt. If you are in doubt about your child's hearing,
see a clinical audiologist. If you are in doubt about language comprehension, see a speech-language
pathologist.

Expressive Language : 4-5 years
Your child speaks clearly and fluently in an easy to listen to voice. He or she can construct long and
detailed sentences ("We went to the zoo but we had to come home early because Josie wasn't feeling
well"). He or she can tell a long and involved story sticking to the topic, and using "adult-like" grammar.
Most sounds are pronounced correctly, though he or she may lisping as a four year old, or, at five, still
have difficulty with "r", "v" and "th". Your child can communicate easily with familiar adults and with other
children. They may tell fantastic "tall stories" and engage strangers in conversation when you are out
together.

Physical Development
• weight: 31-57 pounds
• height: 39-48 inches
• requires approximately 1,700 calories daily
• sleeps 10-11 hours at night
• may begin to loose baby teeth and acquire secondary teeth
• able to dress self with little assistance
• learns to skip
• throws ball overhead
• catches bounced balls
• rides a tricycle skillfully; may show interest in riding a bicycle with training wheels
• balances on either foot for 5-10 seconds
• uses a fork and knife well
• cuts on a line with scissors
• left or right hand dominance is established
• walks down stairs, alternating feet without using a handrail
• jumps over low objects
• can run, gallop, hop and tumble
• can skip and run on tiptoe
• can jump rope
• interested in performing tricks like standing on head, performing dance steps
• capable of learning complex body coordination skills like swimming, ice or roller skating, and riding
bicycles
• may be able to tie shoelaces
• may be able to copy simple designs and shapes
• Has increased poise and coordination
• Dresses and undresses with little assistance (can button and zip)
• Ascends stairs with alternating feet

Social/Emotional Development
• invents games with simple rules
• organizes other children and toys for pretend play
• still confuses fantasy with reality sometimes
• often fears loud noises, the dark, animals, and some people
• can take turns and share, but doesn't always want to
• expresses anger and jealousy physically
• likes to test muscular strength and motor skills, but is not emotionally ready for competition
• carries on conversations with other children and adults
• often excludes other children in play - best friends only
• uses swear words or "bathroom words" to get attention
• sometimes can be very bossy
• likes to try new things and take risks
• likes to make own decisions
• notices when another child is angry or sad - more sensitive to feelings of others
• prefers company of one or two children at a time; may become bossy or sulky when others join in
• likes to feel grown up; boasts about self to younger, less capable children
• begins to have a very basic understanding of right and wrong
• plays contentedly and independently without constant supervision
• takes turns and shares (sometimes)
• understands and respects rules - often asks permission
• understands and enjoys both giving and receiving
• enjoys collecting things
• sometimes needs to get away and be alone
• can understand relationships between people and similarities and differences in other families
• seeks adult approval
• sometimes critical of other children and embarrassed by own mistakes
• less fearful of the world than toddlers because understands the world better
• has a good sense of humor, and enjoys sharing jokes and laughter with adults

Ideas for Care Givers
Encourage body coordination and sense of balance.

Play games that can teach right and left directions.

Observe how a child plays with other children. Teach him to request, bargain, negotiate, and apologize.

Take questions seriously. Talk to children about what happens and why. Give answers they
can understand.

Encourage body coordination and sense of balance by playing "Follow the Leader" with skipping,
galloping, and hopping. Skip or jump rope to music, teach folk dances and games, provide a balance
beam, a tree for climbing, and a knotted rope suspended from a sturdy frame.

Teach games to provide an outlet for their drive for physical activity. Play games that can teach right
and left directions, like "Hokey-Pokey," and "Simon Says."

Provide a plastic needle, thread, and beads to encourage small muscle development. Also, provide
opportunities to use scissors.

Provide carpentry, take-apart, and put-together experiences with junk clocks and old small appliances.
Show children how to repair toys and books.

Ask 5-year-olds to tell you a story. Write it down and post it on the wall or refrigerator. Ask "what if"
questions. What if there were five little pigs instead of three? What if Little Red Riding Hood saw a rabbit
instead of a wolf?

Give 5-year-olds opportunities to sort, group, match, count, and sequence. Introduce Bingo games and
card games such as "fish" to develop these skills.

Help children understand and cope with strong feelings by giving them words to use when they are
angry. "I can see you are SAD about going home - ANGRY at your friend”

Specific praise helps children understand the true value of their actions. Say "Stacking those toys on
the shelf that way really helped - thanks!" rather than "You did a good job!"

Provide a comfortable place to be alone. A large cardboard box makes a wonderful hideaway.

Take fears seriously. Reassure children that you will make sure that nothing bad will happen to them.

Allow 5-year-olds some privacy in the toilet. Remind them to wash their hands until it becomes a habit.

Allow plenty of time to clean up

Encourage interest in jokes, nonsense, and riddles by reading humorous stories, riddles, and nonsense
rhymes.

Give opportunities to express dramatic and creative interest. Teach children how to move their bodies to
dramatize the opening of a flower, falling snow, leaves, or rain; wiggly worms and snakes; and laundry
blowing in the wind.

Involve children in writing "thank-you" notes, holiday greeting cards, and letters. If a 5-year-old enjoys
copying letters, let him dictate a short message to you and copy it from your writing. Old typewriters are
favorite writing tools.

Help children learn to make rules and play simple games by providing opportunities for them to play in
small groups.

Five year olds will show an increasing interest in numbers. Encourage them to count anything of interest
such as: cups, leaves, drums, bells, or number of children