Definition

This article describes the expected skills and growth markers of most 5-year-old children.

Alternative Names

Normal childhood growth milestones - 5 years; Childhood growth milestones - 5 years; Growth milestones for children - 5 years; Well child - 5 years

Information

Physical and motor skill milestones for a typical 5-year-old child include:

• Gains about 4 to 5 pounds per year (1.8 to 2.25 kilograms)
• Grows about 2 to 3 inches per year (5 to 7.5 centimeters)
• Vision reaches 20/20
• First adult teeth start breaking through the gum (most children do not get their first adult teeth until age 6)
• Has better coordination (getting the arms, legs, and body to work together)
• Skips, jumps, and hops with good balance
• Stays balanced while standing on one foot with eyes closed
• Shows more skill with simple tools and writing utensils
• Can copy a triangle
• Can use a knife to spread soft foods

Sensory and mental milestones:

• Has a vocabulary of more than 2,000 words
• Speaks in sentences of 5 or more words, and with all parts of speech
• Can identify different coins
• Can count to 10
• Knows telephone number
• Can properly name the primary colors, and possibly many more colors
• Asks deeper questions that address meaning and purpose
• Can answer "why" questions
• Is more responsible and says "I'm sorry" when they make mistakes
• Shows less aggressive behavior
• Outgrows earlier childhood fears
• Accepts other points of view (but may not understand them)
• Has improved math skills
• Questions others, including parents
• Strongly identifies with the parent of the same sex
• Has a group of friends
• Likes to imagine and pretend while playing (for example, pretends to take a trip to the moon)

Ways to encourage a 5-year-old's development include:

• Reading together
• Providing enough space for the child to be physically active
• Teaching the child how to take part in -- and learn the rules of -- sports and games
• Encouraging the child to play with other children, which helps develop social skills
• Playing creatively with the child
• Limiting both the time and content of television and computer viewing
• Visiting local areas of interest
• Encouraging the child to perform small household chores, such as helping set the table or picking up toys after playing

References

Carter RG, Feigelman S. The preschool years. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 25.

Whitaker AS, Feigelman S. Assessment of fetal growth and development. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 21.