From 3 through 6 years of age, a child will be a sponge soaking up everything for understanding. Curiosity is the basis of all the learning that takes place at this stage. Parents should answer their child’s endless questions in short, simple sentences. Imagination develops throughout this stage and should be encouraged. Providing night lights and stuffed animals to cuddle helps with night fears.

Child Development: 3 Years Old

Though self-centered, a three-year-old child begins to understand relationships and friends start to become an important part of her life. She enjoys being part of a group. She learns to take turns and follow directions. The child at this stage needs social interaction with peers, so enrolling her in preschool is a good idea. Arrange play dates and take her to playgrounds to encourage continued development of socialization skills.

Language development and drawing skills will help the child communicate and socialize. The child at this age uses short sentences and explores the world with language. She is able to use a pencil and scissors and can draw recognizable figures. Toys that help the preschooler develop new skills will interest the child, such as puzzles, craft supplies, and musical instruments.

Child Development: 4 Years Old

A four-year-old preschooler will learn phonetics, the alphabet, comprehend the concept of writing and reading, master basic speaking grammar, tell stories, and know over 1500 words. The child will engage in coherent conversations, give her name, age and address, and will understand time. She feels pride in accomplishments. The preschooler uses imagination to try out new things, and increase self sufficiency. Parents should not distress if their child is being willful, making up stories, wandering off, and showing off.

Physically, the 4-year-old child will have developed enough to climb a ladder, skip, and walk up and down stairs with ease. She should be toilet trained by now, able to almost dress and undress by herself, eat with a fork and spoon, and wash and dry her hands.

Child Development: 5 Years Old

A five year old will be competitive in play, highly organized, and enjoy games requiring rules and taking turns. She will be eager to carry out some responsibilities, and will feel pride in accomplishments. The child will become interested in the broader world beyond just her home and school. The 5-year-old personality is more serious minded, practical, cooperative, and self-assured.

At this stage of child development, the typical preschooler will speak fluently, know over 2,000 words, tell long fanciful stories, and count objects up to about 20. She can read her own name, ask for the meaning of words, and knows colors. She begins to know the difference between fact and fiction, though easily believes in magical logic. Reality is not firm. Perception dominates judgment.

Child Development: 6 Years Old

Most children at age 6 can tell right from wrong and have the desire to do the “right” thing, though they may be prone to telling stories and doing what they are not supposed to do. 6-year-olds are excitable, impulsive and changeable. They will boast, want to be first, have the most, be slow to follow instructions, and be a bit aggressive.

Many 6-year-olds begin to read and print letters and simple words. They can read and write numbers, and can add and subtract single digit numbers. They can draw pictures with more details. Their speech becomes more social, and should be intelligible to others outside the family. Children at this age often like to help set the table, choose menu items, serve themselves, and generally become more aware of the importance of manners.