A 5 year old development

5 years old - his fine manipulative skills

Forms letters and writes own name
Draws recognisable pictures of trees, houses, people and animals
Colours neatly in pictures
Easily dresses and undresses
Completes a 20-piece jigsaw puzzle
Cuts out shapes using scissors quite accurately
Draws around a template
Can competently use a knife and fork, but may still need to have meat cut up for him
May be able to thread a large-eyed needle and sew with large stitches
Has good control over pencils and paint brushes
Can draw a person with a head, body, legs, nose, mouth and eyes
Can copy elaborate models, such as a four-step model using ten cubes
Can do jigsaw puzzles with interlocking pieces
Can count the fingers on one hand using the index finger of the other hand
Can print name on paper.

Your Role To Developing Your 5 Year Old Child

Your 5 year old is starting to enjoy playing games with rules e.g. snakes and ladders. Help him by introducing new games into his play e.g. hide-and-seek... and encourage him to come up with his own games.

Your support and encouragement is needed as there may be times when arguments break out. Encourage him to be as independent as possible e.g. folding his clothes when changing, hanging up his coats etc.

Toys and Equipment To Stimulate Your 5 Year Old Child's Intellectual Development

Hoops
Balls
Roller-skates
Bicycles with stabilisers
Creative materials e.g. paints, crayons, card and paper
Construction toys
Board games.