Northwest Spokane Pediatrics

Child Development

Weeks


What should I expect from my 5-year-old?

Behaviors

  • Can follow rules and regulations
  • May tattle, name-call, hit and shove at times.
  • Cooperates in simple group tasks.
  • Likes to please adults.
  • Gets along comfortably with other children

Neurodevelopmental

  • Begins to recognize letters and words
  • Sustains activities over longer periods of time
  • Has developed an overall image of self
  • Craves facts
  • Names simple colors
  • Understands left and right on self
  • Has a vocabulary of about 2,000 to 2,500 words
  • Can help with chores
  • Can learn their phone number and address.
  • Can think some things through
  • Counts to 10
  • Begins to understand concept of opposites
  • Can speak in sentences of 6 to 8 words
  • Identifies coins
  • Understands concepts of morning, afternoon, night; yesterday, today, tomorrow
  • Is better able to distinguish make-believe from real life

Physical

  • Begins to lose primary (baby) teeth
  • Displays left- or right-handedness
  • Builds elaborate structures
  • Bathes, eats, dresses, toilets independently
  • Begins to participate in semistructured games
  • Enjoys active games and movement
  • Enjoys playing noisy rhythm instruments

Nutrition

Your child may enjoy helping to choose and prepare the family meals with supervision. Children watch what their parents eat, so set a good example. This will help teach him good food habits. Meals should be a time for family to sit together without interference from radio or television. This should be a comfortable social time to discuss things amongst children and adults. Snacks should be healthy. Avoid sugar sweetened beverages.

Give small portions of food to your child. If he is still hungry, let them have seconds. Selecting foods from all food groups (meat, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) is a good way to provide a balanced diet.

Television

It is important to set rules about television watching. Limit total TV time for the whole family to about 1 hour per day. Children should not be allowed to watch shows with violence or sexual behaviors. Watch TV with your child and discuss the shows. Find other activities other than watching TV that you can do with your child. Reading, hobbies, and physical activities are good alternatives to TV.

Some children still wet the bed at night. If your child wets the bed regularly, ask your doctor about ways to help your child.

Safety Tips

Accidents are the number-one cause of serious injury and death in children.

School Readiness
  • In order to be ready to go to kindergarten, your child should know his care takers’ actual names (not just "Mom" and "Dad"), their home phone number or cell phone number, and home address. This will help your child to talk with another adult or school official to get a hold of his/her caretaker, or to get them home safely in an emergency situation.
Car Safety
  • Everyone in a car must always wear seat belts or be in an appropriate booster seat or car seat.
  • Don't buy motorized vehicles for your child.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
  • Always supervise street crossing. Your child may start to look in both directions but don't depend on her ability to cross a street alone.
  • All family members should use a bicycle helmet, even when riding a tricycle.
  • Do not allow your child to ride a bicycle near traffic.
  • Don't buy a bicycle that is too big for your child.
Prevent Fires and Burns
  • Practice a fire escape plan.
  • Check smoke detectors and replace the batteries when necessary.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
  • Teach your child to never play with matches or lighters.
  • Teach your child emergency phone numbers and to leave the house if fire breaks out.
  • Turn your water heater down to 120°F (50°C).
Prevent Drowning
  • Continuously watch your child around swimming pools.
  • Enroll your child in swimming lessons.
Safety Around Strangers
  • Safety outside the home is very important to discuss with your child.
  • Teach your child her address and phone number and how to contact you at work.
  • Teach your child never to go anywhere with a stranger.
Poisons
  • Teach your child to take medicines only with supervision.
  • Teach your child to never eat unknown pills or substances.
  • Put the poison center number on all phones.

RED FLAGS

  • Uses only 3-4 word sentences and is still in the present.
  • May talk a lot but is not in reciprocal conversation.
  • Can not answer “how” or “why” questions.
  • Except for r,l, and th, cannot say sounds correctly.

(Excerpted from Spokane Regional Health District – Infant Toddler Network)