MumCentre Essentials

2 to 3 years | 3 to 4 years | 4 to 5 years | 5 to 6 years

5 Years | 6 Year

Your child has probably had pretend pals for a while now. At this age, your child will begin to “lose them” as he/ she slowly realises what is imaginary and what is real.

What your child might do:

Physically and mentally
• Completes activities without waiting for instructions
• Brushes teeth with minimal supervision
• Remembers events clearly
• Begins to understand what is right/ wrong, what is real/ not real
• Makes comparisons
• Solves simple problems independently
• Builds smaller-sized piece-together structures
• Draws easily recognisable pictures

Language and emotions
• Writes short sentences
• Reads beginner level books, perhaps even short stories
• Spells simple words
• Spends time, even eagerly, without parents, especially if playing with a friend
• Shares willingly and finds joy in it
• Boys begin to play in larger groups than girls

Feeding and sleep
Your child is now quite aware of lunch, dinner and bedtime routines and may even begin preparing for them without your directions. Between meals, continue to quietly monitor your child’s eating and drinking habits, cutting out unhealthy foods whenever possible. At this age, a child needs at least 10 hours of sleep a day.

Ideal toys for this age
• 25 to 50-piece jigsaw puzzles
• Educational computer software
• Electronic toys
• Piece-together toys e.g. Lego blocks
• Dolls’ mix-and-match clothing and accessory sets
• Washable markers and paints

Useful tips
Defiance is normal at this age as your child tries to assert him/ herself. If your child pretends not to hear you or continues to do something he/ she knows is out of bounds, do not yell but remain firm and authoritative. You can also explain why you have that rule in place. Eventually, your child will begin to understand what he/ she must do.

Your child, once a helpless babe, is now almost completely independent, requiring little assistance with day-to-day activities. However, don’t forget to keep feeding your child’s self-confidence with encouragement and praise!

What your child might do:

Physically and mentally
• Mimics grown-up speech and postures
• Begins to lose milk teeth (they will be replaced by permanent teeth in stages)
• Understands that actions have consequences
• Showers and dresses self with minimal supervision (never leave a young child completely alone especially if using a bath tub)

Language and emotions
• Explains things, such as rules of a game
• Understands and writes numbers (may understand numerical values until 50)
• Learns to write with correct punctuation and capitalisation
• Relates what happened in a story he/ she read
• Knows days of the week and months of the year
• Tells time
• Makes firmer friendships

Feeding and sleep
Your child is ready to learn about the food guide pyramid. Help him/ her to make healthy eating choices by explaining the different food categories and nutrients and their effect on the body. To ensure that your child is well rested, incorporate some quiet time each night after dinner to help him/ her wind down and sleep better.

Ideal toys for this age
• 50-piece jigsaw puzzles
• Interactive toys and computer software
• Electronic toys
• Two-wheeled bicycle
• Simple adventure or mystery-themed storybooks

Useful tips
Primary school readiness is a main concern for parents of six-year-olds. Jumpstart your child’s learning abilities by treating education as a game! Set aside some time each day to complete simple math and language puzzles together.