Developmental Milestones for 5-Year-Olds
Key developmental milestones children typically reach at this age, based on CDC, WHO, and Montessori frameworks.
What your child is working on right now
Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
Asks to go play with children if none are around, like 'Can I play with Alex?'
Comforts others who are hurt or upset, like hugging a crying friend
Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
CDC Developmental Milestones
Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
Social/Emotional
Asks to go play with children if none are around, like 'Can I play with Alex?'
Social/Emotional
Comforts others who are hurt or upset, like hugging a crying friend
Social/Emotional
Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
Social/Emotional
Likes to be a 'helper'
Social/Emotional
Changes behavior based on where they are (place of worship, library, playground)
Social/Emotional
Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Social/Emotional
Sings, dances, or acts for you
Social/Emotional
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table
Social/Emotional
Says sentences with four or more words
Language/Communication
Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
Language/Communication
Talks about at least one thing that happened during the day, like 'I played soccer'
Language/Communication
Answers simple questions like 'What is a coat for?' or 'What is a crayon for?'
Language/Communication
Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events
Language/Communication
Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them
Language/Communication
Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
Language/Communication
Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Language/Communication
Names a few colors of items
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Tells what comes next in a well-known story
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Draws a person with three or more body parts
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Counts to 10
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Uses words about time, like 'yesterday,' 'tomorrow,' 'morning,' or 'night'
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Writes some letters in their name
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Names some letters when you point to them
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Catches a large ball most of the time
Movement/Physical Development
Serves self food or pours water, with adult supervision
Movement/Physical Development
Unbuttons some buttons
Movement/Physical Development
Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
Movement/Physical Development
Buttons some buttons
Movement/Physical Development
Hops on one foot
Movement/Physical Development
ASQ-3 Developmental Domains
Uses future tense and complex sentences
Communication
Skips using alternating feet
Gross Motor
Prints some letters
Fine Motor
Counts to 20 and names written numbers
Problem Solving
Dresses and undresses without much help
Personal-Social
Montessori Sensitive Periods
Interest in reading and writing — child begins encoding and decoding written language
Language
Discriminates fine sensory differences — distinguishing subtle variations in sensory input
Sensory Refinement
Grace and courtesy — developing awareness of how to act in social situations, self-regulation in groups
Social Behavior
Developing empathy and conflict resolution — understanding others' feelings and working through disagreements
Social Behavior
Reggio Emilia Approach
Combines multiple media in a single project — uses drawing plus collage, or clay plus found materials to express an idea
Hundred Languages of Expression
Narrates or explains own artwork — describes what they made and why, connecting visual expression to verbal language
Hundred Languages of Expression
Negotiates roles or materials with peers — takes turns, trades materials, or agrees on who does what in group work
Social Collaboration & Community
Builds on another child's idea — extends, modifies, or responds to a peer's contribution during collaborative work
Social Collaboration & Community
Co-creates a shared product with peers — works together to complete a mural, construction, story, or performance
Social Collaboration & Community
Makes predictions before trying something — says what they think will happen before testing an idea
Investigation & Inquiry
Sustains investigation over multiple sessions — returns to a topic or project across days, building on prior discoveries
Investigation & Inquiry
Compares observations and draws conclusions — notices similarities and differences, describes patterns or changes over time
Investigation & Inquiry
Rearranges or contributes to the environment — moves furniture, adds found objects, or helps set up a display
Environment as Third Teacher
Uses outdoor spaces for intentional exploration — collects natural materials, observes weather patterns, or tends a garden
Environment as Third Teacher
Revisits earlier work and makes changes — returns to a drawing, construction, or story to add details or modifications
Documentation & Reflection
Helps create documentation of a project — contributes drawings, dictates descriptions, or selects photos to represent their learning
Documentation & Reflection
Reflects on own learning process — describes what was hard, what they changed, or what they want to try next
Documentation & Reflection
Activities to Support Development
Animal Walk Relay
Race across the room using different animal movements: crab walk, frog jump, penguin waddle.
Backyard Camping
Set up a backyard campsite for adventure, stargazing, and storytelling. Works even without a tent.
Bird Watching
Introduce kids to bird watching. Builds patience, observation, and connection to nature.
Board Game Night
Board games teach math, strategy, patience, and good sportsmanship. Our top picks for 5-8 year olds.
Building a Fort Together
Collaborate to build a blanket fort, making decisions and dividing tasks as a team.
Cardboard Box Building
Turn cardboard boxes into rockets, forts, and cars. Builds engineering thinking, creativity, and teamwork.