PK/kindergarten ages(3-5)

Physical Development

  • Longer, leaner body build
  • Vigorous, dynamic, acrobatic
  • Active until exhausted
  • "Works": builds, drives, pilots
  • Can jump own height and land upright
  • Hops, skips
  • Throws large ball, kicks accurately
  • Hops and stands on one foot
  • Jumps over objects
  • Walks in a straight line
  • Races up and down stairs
  • Turns somersaults
  • Walks backward toe-heel
  • Accurate, rash body movements
  • Copies shapes such as a cross or square
  • Can draw a stick figure
  • Holds paintbrush in adult manner, pencil in fisted grip
  • Can lace shoes
  • Dresses self except back buttons, ties
  • Has sureness and control in finger activities
  • Alternates feet going down stairs

Cognitive Development

  • Does some naming and representative art
  • Gives art products personal value
  • Can work for a goal
  • Questions constantly
  • Interested in how things work
  • Interested in how things work
  • Interested in life-death concepts
  • Has an extended attention span
  • Can do two things at once
  • Dramatic play is closer to reality
  • Judges which of two objects is larger
  • Has concept of 3; can name more than 3 objects at a time
  • Has accurrate sense of time
  • Full of ideas
  • Begins to generalize; often faulty
  • Likes a variety of materials
  • Calls people names
  • Has dynamic intellectual drive
  • Has imaginary playmates
  • Recognizes several printed words

Social and Emotional Development

  • Mood changes rapidly
  • Tries out feelings of power
  • Dominates; can be bossy, boastful, beligerent
  • Assertive, arguementative
  • Shows off; is cocky, noisy
  • Can fight own battles
  • Hits, grabs, inssits on desires
  • Explosive, destructive
  • Easily over stimulated, excitable
  • Impatient in large groups
  • Cooperates in groups of two or three
  • Develops "special" friends, but shifts loyalties often
  • May exclude others from play
  • Resistant, tests limits
  • Exaggerates, tells tall tales
  • Alibis frequently
  • Teases, outwits; has terrific humor
  • May have scary dreams
  • Tattles frequestly
  • Has food jags, food strikes

Creative/PersONAL Development

  • Is adventurous
  • Shows vivid imagination
  • Displays great interest in violence in imaginary play
  • Loves anything new
  • Demonstrates more elaborate dramatic play
  • Makes up new words, sounds and stories
  • Enjoys complexity in book illustrations
  • Exaggerates and goes to extreme
  • Likes funny poetry
  • Tells a spontaneous story with artwork
  • Can put on elaborate plays with puppets
  • Finds ways to solve problems
  • Combines words and ideas