Preschool Developmental Milestones – Is your preschooler meeting developmental milestones? Children grow and develop at different rates, but most will reach several milestones between the ages of 3 and 5.
Although children develop at different rates, preschool developmental milestones provide guidelines that can indicate if a child is struggling. According to the Center for Disease Control, “Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age.”
OAKLAND COUNTY MOMS EDUCATION ARTICLES & RESOURCES
Developmental milestones – How does your child fare?
Preschool Developmental Milestones
Between the ages 3 and 4, most children will be able to
- Recognize at least three colors or shapes
- Focus on an activity for brief periods
- Show interest in pretend play and playing with other children
Between ages 4 and 5, most children will be able to
- Carry on simple two- to three-sentence conversations
- Understand the concept of time
- Grasp the rules of basic preschool games
- Discuss basic facts about themselves
- Take on simple tasks such as counting or pointing out at least five objects
- Copy some capital letters
A child who is not meeting these milestones may need special instruction to help prepare for kindergarten.
How to Get help if Your Child Isn’t Meeting Preschool Developmental Milestones
Some children may be eligible for special education services at no cost to their parents. Multiple educational programs provide support that ensures developmental progress and helps kids learn skills to interact and play well with others.
A range of concerns could potentially impact a child’s learning ability, including speech/language impairment, cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder, emotional impairment, traumatic brain injury, hearing or visual impairment, early childhood developmental delay or a specific learning disability.
Oakland County parents who are concerned that their preschooler may be struggling can reach out to Build Up Michigan. Funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Build Up provides awareness about services that are available for eligible 3- to 5-year-olds and referrals. Evaluations are conducted only during the school year, so learn more today at buildupmi.org.
This article is provided by Build Up MI of Metro Detroit for Oakland County Moms.
To learn more about Preschool Developmental Milestones, visit buildupmi.org.
