Not a baby anymore Your child isn’t a baby anymore. Her movement skills, language skills, thinking skills and social skills will change a lot from the age of 3 years to the age of 5 years.
Every child is different. Your child may take longer than other children to do something new. If you are concerned, talk to your child’s doctor.
Your child at 3 to 4 years old
Your child is growing fast when she is 3 years old. She can show you her feelings and ideas. She can do things on her own. Your child has learned many new words, and she will speak 2 sentences or even 3 sentences at a time.
• She will play “Mommy” and “Daddy.”
• She will enjoy playing make-believe.
• She will want to play with other children more than by herself.
• She will join other children who are playing.
• She will talk about what she likes and what she is interested in.
• She will use the words “he” and “she” correctly.
• She will sing a song or say a poem that she remembers.
• She will tell stories.
• She will say her first and last name.
• She will name some colors and some numbers.
• She will understand the idea of counting.
• She will remember parts of a story.
• She will draw a person with 2, 3 or 4 body parts.
• She will begin to use scissors.
• She will start to copy some capital letters.
• She will play board games or card games.
• She will tell you what she thinks is going to happen next when you read her a book.
• She will hop and stand on one foot for as long as 2 seconds.
• She will catch a ball someone has bounced most of the time.
• She will pour water or milk, cut with child’s scissors, and mash her own food.
Your child at 4 to 5 years old
At about 4 years old, your child will speak clearly. She will be able to tell a simple story using full sentences. She will enjoy singing, dancing, and pretending.
• She will want to be like her friends.
• She will show concern and sympathy for others.
• She will know what’s real and what is make-believe.
• She will be independent.
• She will be demanding.
• She will say her name and her address.
• She will count 10 or more things.
• She will draw a person with at least 6 body parts.
• She will print some letters or numbers.
• She will copy a triangle and other shapes.
• She will stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer.
• She will hop, and she may be able to skip.
• She will use a fork and spoon.
• She will use the toilet on her own.
More about 4-year-olds Want to learn more? Click here>>
Is your child on WIC? If your child is on WIC, and you are concerned about how he is developing, you can talk with your WIC educator about your concerns.
