Physical
Development
- Has better large muscle than small
muscle coordination.
- Rides a bicycle.
- Starts to alternate rigorous and
restful activities independently.
- Favors competitive games.
- Has better eye-hand coordination.
- May ask questions about life, death,
and the human body.
- Preoccupied with subject of teeth.
Emotional Development
- Gets better at putting negative
feelings into words.
- May blame another for own mistake.
Social Development
- Plays with boys and girls together.
- Usually has a best friend of the same
sex.
- Shows growing concern about popularity
among peers.
- Seeks approval of peers as well as
adults.
- Takes it upon self to enforce rules.
- Tattles on other children who are
misbehaving.
- Tends to be quite critical.
- Starts to look for role-models.
Mental Development
- Rapidly develops skill in using
language.
- Wants to be "first," "best,"
"perfect," "correct," in everything.
- Is greatly concerned with right and
wrong.
- Has trouble with the concepts of
honesty and dishonesty.
- Starts to use logical reasoning to
solve problems.
- Enjoys dramatic play.
These guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general
progression through the developmental stages rather than as
fixed requirements for normal development at specific ages.
It is perfectly natural for a child to attain some
milestones earlier and other milestones later than the
general trend.
If you have any concerns related to your
child's own pattern of development, check with your health
care provider.