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Developmental milestones record - 5 years

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

Definition

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

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.

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Review Date: 4/17/2024

Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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