Developmental Milestones for Your Child’s Fifth Year

This guide breaks down the key developmental milestones your toddler should reach between 4 years old and 5 years old. Understanding these milestones is the first step to actively supporting your toddler’s growth and setting them up for a lifetime of success in school and beyond. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the Metro Therapy team at (763) 450-9400 today and we’ll be happy to help.

Development at 5 Years Old

By the time your child is about 5 years old, they should achieve the following new skills: 

Speech & Language 

  • Speaks clearly using more complex sentence structure

  • Talks about future activities (like, “We’re going to the park tomorrow”)

  • Tells stories they make up on their own

  • Recognizes simple rhymes (like “The cat in the hat.”)

  • Takes turns in conversations and can follow the topic

  • Says their speech sounds correctly

  • Speaks fluently without stuttering, hesitating, or otherwise struggling

Cognitive

  • Able to count 10 or more objects

  • Correctly names several colors and shapes

  • Recognizes most letters of the alphabet

  • Better understands schedules and time of day

  • Has a longer attention span for activities

  • Answers simple questions about a story after you read it

Movement

  • Can stand on one foot for about 10 seconds without falling

  • Uses the potty on their own

  • Can hop and skip without falling

  • Enjoys climbing, swinging, and even somersaulting

  • Can keep the momentum going while swinging on a swing set

  • Able to walk backwards

  • Walks heel-to-toe without getting unbalanced

  • Walks up and down stairs without help

Social & Emotional

  • Follows the rules of games they play with you or other children

  • Takes turns when playing with toys

  • Enjoys singing, dancing, or acting

  • Handles simple chores like clearing their dishes from the table after meals

  • May be more independent, wanting to handle things on their own

  • Understands the difference between real and pretend

Feeding

  • Uses utensils confidently and correctly

  • Enjoys a variety of nutritious foods

  • Has food preferences, but willing to try new foods at least once

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Some occasional mistakes in coordination and balance are normal at this age. However, if you notice persistent challenges or significant delays, a physical therapist can assess your child's motor skills and help them learn to move their body with confidence.

  • At age 5, your child’s control of a pencil or crayon may not be perfect, but they should be able to do it without too much struggle. If this is difficult for your child, our occupational therapists can help them master the fine motor skills needed to write and draw effectively.

  • By age 5, many children can get dressed on their own, though they may still struggle with laces, zippers, and small buttons. If your child has trouble getting dressed on their own, occupational therapy can help them master the skills they need to handle this daily task.

  • Most people should be able to understand your child’s speech at this age, and they should be pronouncing nearly all of their speech sounds correctly (even if they make a mistake now and then). If your child is consistently struggling with specific sounds, speech therapy can help them learn the skills they need to speak clearly and confidently.

  • Occasional stuttering can be normal as language skills develop, but if it persists or worsens, you should consult with our speech-language pathologists. Early intervention can be effective in addressing stuttering and give your child the confidence to share their ideas with others.

  • Picky eating is common, but extreme pickiness that leads to meltdowns, tantrums, or obvious anxiety for your child is cause for concern. If your child is so picky that they’re not getting the nutrients their growing body needs, or if mealtimes feel more like battlefields at home, our feeding therapists can help uncover why your child struggles with certain foods and help them learn to eat and drink more easily.

  • By age 5, your child should be able to effectively chew and swallow a variety of foods without choking, coughing, or gagging. An occasional cough or mis-swallow is normal, but if your child is consistently having trouble at mealtimes, our feeding therapists can help make sure they have the oral motor skills they need for effective chewing and swallowing.

  • Children have their own unique personalities, and your child may simply be more reserved and enjoy quiet activities. But if your child gets upset in social situations, doesn’t seem to understand social cues or conversations, or doesn’t enjoy playing with other children their age, that may be a sign of a developmental delay. Our occupational therapists can help if your child is struggling with social skills, and our speech-language pathologists can help if your child has trouble with their communication skills.

Schedule a Free Screening

At Metro Therapy in Fridley, MN, we celebrate each milestone your child achieves. If you have any concerns about their development, or if you just want to ensure your child is reaching their milestones, our expert pediatric therapists are here to support you. Schedule a free screening and help your toddler be the very best they can be.

CALL: (763) 450-9400