7 Developmental milestones for 4-5 year olds parents shouldn't miss

The age of 4 to 5 is a truly special and exciting phase in a child's growth journey. This is when children are gradually becoming more independent and confident, and it's also a crucial time for parents to prepare them for first grade.

At 4-5 years old, children experience comprehensive development in both physical and intellectual aspects. While every child develops at their own pace, most children in this age group can achieve the majority of the 7 important milestones below before turning 6.

1. Clearer Communication, Better Expression

At 4-5 years old, a child's brain is nearly fully developed, reaching 90% the size of an adult brain. This is a phase where children constantly ask questions and are curious to explore the world around them.

Along with this, their expressive abilities significantly improve with a rich vocabulary and increasingly logical thought processes. Children in this stage will clearly demonstrate communication skill development through the following signs:

• Children can express ideas clearly, using more complex sentences with full subjects and predicates.
• They can retell past events or short stories fluently.
• They have a rich vocabulary, ask many questions about the world around them, and can even invent funny words.

SEE MORE: A Comprehensive Guide to DHA for Children – Which Type is Best for Your Child?

Children at this age show significantly improved expressive abilities.

2. Rapid Cognitive Development

This is also a pivotal stage for children as they approach age 6, with their brain size nearing that of an adult. Therefore, parents will clearly see that at 4-5 years old, a child's cognitive abilities will make greater leaps compared to ages 2-3.

Key cognitive and developmental milestones parents might observe include:

• Children remember and can accurately count to at least 10, and may even remember larger numbers.
• They recognize colors, shapes, some basic letters, and numbers.
• They begin to understand time concepts (morning – evening, yesterday – today…).
• They can recall basic personal information such as their home address and parents' phone numbers.

3. Longer Attention Span

In previous articles, Vitatree mentioned that a child's attention span gradually increases. At 1-2 years old, a child's attention span for an activity is only 2-5 minutes, and at 3-4 years old, it's about 5 minutes.

Upon reaching 4-5 years old, children can dedicate 100% of their attention to an activity like reading books or doing homework for 10-15 minutes at a time, or even longer. Their ability to focus and pay attention significantly improves at this age.

4. Proficient Gross Motor Skills

Children in this age group typically attend preschool and often participate in art classes, coloring, and age-appropriate school games such as running, hopping, throwing and kicking balls, and overcoming obstacles.

Important gross motor developmental milestones at this stage include:

• Good balance, walking up and down stairs without adult assistance.
• Running fast, hopping, and skillfully riding a tricycle.
• Enjoying active games at school, like obstacle courses and playing soccer.

Riding a bike proficiently is one of the prominent gross motor development milestones.

5. Finger Dexterity

One of the most notable milestones in this period that parents can observe is the child's skillful and flexible use of their fingers. This is seen through fine motor skills such as drawing a person with all body parts (torso, head, limbs), stacking 10 or more blocks, and skillfully using chopsticks and spoons when eating. At this age, children can also dress and undress themselves, brush their teeth, and use the toilet with little assistance.

SEE MORE: A compilation of ways to increase focus in school-aged children

6. Emotional Regulation Skills

At 4-5 years old, children express emotions through words.

At 4-5 years old, children are gradually realizing that the world doesn't revolve solely around them. They begin to understand other people's emotions, are better able to resolve conflicts, and control their own emotions, while also recognizing the impact of their reactions.

Important emotional and social developmental milestones that children can achieve at this age include:

• Knowing how to share and take turns when playing with friends, demonstrating cooperation and respect for others.
• Wanting to please adults or playmates, showing that children are beginning to understand the emotions and needs of those around them.
• Knowing how to control anger and having fewer emotional outbursts, indicating better emotional self-regulation.
• Beginning to clearly distinguish between reality and imagination, helping children perceive the world around them more accurately.

7. Child's Independence

A child's confidence and independence cannot exist without parental support.

At 4-5 years old, children begin to show strong signs of independence, a crucial milestone in their intellectual, emotional, and social development.

• Children want to make their own small decisions in life, such as choosing clothes, favorite foods, or games.
• They proactively carry out personal hygiene routines like dressing, brushing teeth, washing hands, or tidying up toys.
• They confidently express their opinions or personal feelings to parents, teachers, or friends, helping them develop self-confidence and better communication skills.

SEE MORE: Lutein for children: benefits, how to supplement and the best Lutein-rich foods every parent should know

The role of DHA in the development of 4-5 year olds

The 4-5 age group is a period when a child's brain develops rapidly, laying the foundation for future learning, memory, and thinking skills. DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) plays a crucial role during this stage.

DHA is a primary component of gray matter in the brain (comprising 15-20% of brain structure) and the retina of the eye (accounting for about 60% of retinal lipids). Adequate DHA supplementation offers numerous superior benefits:

DHA supplementation helps children develop comprehensively in both brain and eyes.

SEE MORE: At what age should children start taking DHA? Should DHA Be Supplemented Daily

• Brain and Cognitive Development:

 DHA accounts for 15-20% of brain structure, helping children improve memory, quick reflexes, and high concentration during learning.

• Vision Support:

 DHA makes up about 60% of retinal lipids, helping children's eyes stay bright, see details clearly, and protect against blue light from electronic devices.

• Immune System Boost:

 DHA helps children build stronger immunity, get sick less often, and reduce the risk of infections, allergies, and asthma.

• Overall Health Enhancement:

 DHA helps children sleep better and improves eating habits, thereby facilitating robust physical development.

SEE MORE: Is Pure DHA Important, or Is Regular DHA Enough for Children?

Important Advice: Always consult a doctor or nutritionist for more information on micronutrients your child may need if their diet is insufficient, especially DHA, to provide maximum support for their brain as they prepare for first grade.

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The period from 4 to 5 years old is a pivotal stage in a child's development, marking many important milestones in language, cognition, motor skills, and social-emotional growth. Understanding these developmental milestones and applying appropriate support methods, along with timely nutritional supplementation, will create a solid foundation for your beloved child.