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3 to 6 Years
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3 to 4 Years
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Remember, every child develops at a different pace. Allow your child to set the pace. |
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Activities |
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- Your child will enjoy climbing, running, jumping and playing ball.
- Teach your child to ride a tricycle.
- Your child can learn to draw shapes, such as circles, squares and lines.
- Your child will enjoy drawing and painting. You can use the paints to teach them different colors.
- Your child may learn to write the alphabet.
- Help your child to learn numbers and to do simple counting.
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Communication |
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- Continue reading to your child and ask the child to describe what is happening in the story.
- Introduce the alphabet to your child. Teach one letter at a time.
- Teach time to your child by talking about before, later, after and now.
- Your child will be curious about the world. Give simple answers to your child's questions.
- Your child can be taught about opposites. For example, discuss the differences between taller, shorter, younger and older.
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Interpersonal and Social Skills |
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- Continue hugging, cuddling, smiling at and talking to your child. Play games together. Offer comfort when your child is upset.
- Your child can help with simple household tasks, such as putting away toys.
- Teach your child to button clothing without your help.
- Ask your child to eat with a fork, knife and spoon.
- Your child can use soap, water and a washcloth to clean hands, arms, legs and face.
- Offer praise and encouragement when your child learns something new, plays well with others or helps you with household tasks.
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4 to 5 Years
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Remember, every child develops at a different pace. Allow your child to set the pace. |
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Communication |
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- Your child may be able to read some printed words at this age.
- Your child can learn to count and to recognize numbers.
- Help your child to explore books by visiting the local library.
- You can teach your child to sing by singing along.
- Your child's memory will develop with the help of games.
- Teach your child the differences between summer, fall, winter and spring by walking or playing outdoors.
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Interpersonal and Social Skills |
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- Continue hugging, cuddling, smiling at and talking to your child. Play games together. Offer comfort when your child is upset.
- Your child will want to play with other children.
- Help your child to become more independent. Arrange for visits to a friend's home, or a cousin's home, without you.
- Teach your child to share toys, foods and other favorite items with playmates and family members.
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5 to 6 Years
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Remember, every child develops at a different pace. Allow your child to set the pace. |
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Activities |
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- At this age, your child is ready to ride a bicycle, roller skate and ice skate. Look for bicycles and skates designed for smaller children. Make sure you buy a bicycle helmet, knee pads and wrist pads for your child's safety.
- Your child can help with simple cooking projects, such as making a cake or cookies from a mix. Your child also can help you clean up.
- Help your child recognize the days of the week and months of the year. Help your child learn by marking birthdays and holidays on the calendar.
- You also can teach your child to tell time at this age.
- Show your child how to measure objects by using a ruler.
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Communication |
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- Continue reading to your child often and talking about stories.
- Your child also can learn to read simple signs, such as Stop, Walk and Don't Walk.
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Interpersonal and Social Skills |
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- Continue hugging, cuddling, smiling at and talking to your child. Play games together. Offer comfort when your child is upset.
- Praise your child for positive actions. It is better to reward your child than to scold.
- Your child should understand and follow family rules.
- Teach your child to be a "good sport" when playing games. Explain that sometimes your child will lose a game.
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School Readiness
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Before starting school, children should demonstrate certain readiness skills, including: |
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- Can count to 10.
- Able to stay on a task.
- Expresses self verbally.
- Follows directions and listens.
- Recognizes authority.
- Shares with others.
- Has motor skills, such as running, hopping, throwing balls, controlling a pencil or crayon and handling scissors.
- Has been read to regularly.
- Looks at books or magazines.
- Knows name, parents' names, home address.
- Recognizes colors, shapes, sizes and positions.
- Knows age and birthday.
- Identifies parts of the body.
- Identifies other children by name.
- Tells the meaning of simple words.
- Can be away from parents without being upset.
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Immunization: 3 to 6 years
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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, in addition to immunizations given previously, the following immunizations be given at 4 years to 6 years of age: |
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- To prevent diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis - the fifth DTaP vaccine.
- To prevent polio - the fourth IPV vaccine.
- To prevent measles, mumps and rubella - the second MMR vaccine. Some school districts require proof that a child has been immunized as a condition for attending school.
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Guidelines for when a child should be immunized for different diseases change from time to time. Talk to your pediatrician about an immunization schedule for your child.
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