Making friends, forming ideas, following rules … it’s all coming together now, just in time for school! Imagination also reaches new levels, and athletic abilities start to shine. Here, you’ll find ways to make creativity and problem-solving part of each day for your five-year-old, paving the way for continued learning and a “can-do” approach to life.
He draws recognizable pictures, writes his name, dresses himself and completes puzzles
She can solve problems and explain things
His friendships become stronger
She can sort things into basic categories
He can imitate your pose and tone of voice
She can finish activities without waiting for directions
He differentiates between “pretend” and “real” when playing
She begins to make comparisons and her memory expands
He can explain games to other kids
Toys that encourage creative expression
Doodle Bear Babies™ Puppy
Kid-Tough™ Doodler Classic with 4 Stampers
Help your child learn more:
“Look what I made!” If you can, stop what you’re doing and check it out when your child wants you to admire his creations. Set aside a special time when you can focus on your child. Ask her to demonstrate her work, and praise her abilities.
Encourage self-expression. Can he explain why he's created a certain drawing or video? Or why she thinks her music sounds a certain way? Encourage talking about ideas and feelings.
Tour an art gallery or museum with your child. Let her critique the work, telling you what she likes best about it. See if the museum offers any kid-friendly activities.
Preschool cameras and electronic toys
Smart Phone
Smart Tablet
Help your child learn more:
Play favourites. Have your child take pictures of his favourite things. These could include foods, stuffed animals, toys, or anything else he cherishes. He can share it with a teacher, send it to a distant relative or give it to a new friend who wants to know more about him!
Look closely. Taking pictures is a great opportunity for your child to refine observation skills. As you look for subjects, talk about how faraway objects look bigger as you approach them.
“Zoom” in on objects with something other than a camera. Use a magnifying glass to study insects. Visit a science museum to look into a telescope or microscope. Your child can have lots of fun just studying her features in a magnifying mirror.
Children develop at their own pace and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this website are approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
Bug Hunt
Average Rating
out of 1 vote(s)
At this age, your child probably finds bugs fascinating! Have fun together on a Bug Hunt!
Materiais
Pad of paper and felt-tip pens, or instant camera
Yard, park, nature walk, or other outdoor area
Magnifying glass
Bug identification book (optional)
Instructions
Walk or drive to a park or nature area. Bring a small pad of paper and drawing materials, or an instant camera, if you prefer.
Walk through the area and help your child find some bugs. Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look.
When you locate a bug, have your child draw a picture of it using her pad and pens, or take a photograph.
Continue your walk, looking for different bugs.
After you gather a nice collection, return home to organize the drawings or photos. If using a regular camera, have the film developed.
Lay the pictures or photos on a table and have your child examine the bugs. Ask her to look for features that are similar and different.
If you have a bug identification book, have your child try to identify the bugs and label them.
Safety
Be careful with bugs that bite and sting and watch for dangerous plants such as poison ivy.
Here’s another good reason to get your child moving.
You probably have heard about all the ways that regular activity and exercise can help to prevent obesity and other associated health problems—including diabetes and heart disease. But did
Read More
Look Who's Talking... Like a Baby: Advice from Moms
My 5-year-old son has a 2-year-old sister. When she started walking, he had accidents in his underpants. Now that she's talking, he's copying her mispronounced words, communicating in one-word sentences and inventing nonsense words that he repeats until someone tells him to stop.
We don't lavish attention on our daughter, nor do we neglect to give our son one-on-one time. How can we get him to be his articulate self again? From Madi in Apex, NC
Tell your son that his sister learns more from him than from anyone else, and that he needs to teach her how to talk. It will make him feel important, and it will help him relate to her in a different way. Instead of coming do
Read More
Kids’ Hobbies: More than Just a Way to Pass the Time
In my work as a child psychologist, I see my fair share of unhappy children. Many of them, it turns out, have no special interests. Consequently, they seem boring to potential friends. They don’t know how to entertain themselves, so they wind up p
Read More
