Key Milestones in the Growth and Development of Preschoolers

Once your child crosses their toddlerhood, they enter preschool age, where their potential knows no bounds. Get ready for your tiny tot to finally start taking over and feeling their true independence. They are going to explore a world beyond the four walls of their house and be introduced to new people in their lives.

The growth and development of a preschooler is a bit different than that of a toddler. Keep reading this guide to exactly understand what key preschool developmental milestones your kids cross at this age.

Milestones to Measure Growth and Development of Preschoolers

Now, every child grows differently and at a different pace. While these milestones outline a generic growth rate at which preschoolers may develop on average, growth is not set in stone. Your child may develop a bit early or later than what is expected, which is also fine. With that in mind, let’s look at the developmental milestones your preschooler may achieve at their age:

1. Physical Developmental Stages of a Preschooler

Categorised into two stages, early preschooler and later preschooler based on their age, here are some physical developmental milestones you may notice in your child:

• Early Preschooler (3 to 4 years)

  • Dashes around obstacles with growing agility
  • Pushes, pulls, and steers toys with purpose and control
  • Stacks blocks into a tower, testing balance and coordination
  • Stands on one foot, even if just for a moment
  • Throws a ball and attempts to catch it, sometimes with a little wobble
  • Dresses and undresses independently, though buttons and zippers might still be tricky
  • Squeezes, rolls, and shapes clay with eager little hands

• Later Preschooler (4 to 5 years)

  • Walks backwards with growing confidence and balance
  • Draws crosses and circles with better control and precision
  • Jumps forward repeatedly, turning it into a fun game
  • Attempts somersaults, sometimes with a little extra rolling
  • Climbs up and down stairs more smoothly, often without help
  • Uses safety scissors to cut with more accuracy
  • Copies simple shapes like squares and crosses
  • Follows a line while cutting, keeping the scissors steady
  • Draws a basic person, usually with a big head and stick limbs
  • Starts writing a few capital letters, though they might be wobbly

2. Social and Emotional Developmental Stages of a Preschooler

As a child reaches the preschool age, playmates become important for their social and emotional development. Below are the social and emotional developmental milestones you may notice in your preschooler:

• Learns to share toys, though not always willingly
• Follows a series of simple instructions, though reminders may be needed
• Starts to grasp the concept of right and wrong, even if rules are sometimes bent
• Notices differences between themselves and others, often making playful comparisons
• Forms early friendships and enjoys spending time with other children
• Dives into pretend play, creating imaginative stories and roles

3. Cognitive Developmental Stages of a Preschooler

This is where your preschooler is developing on a cognitive level. Here are the things you will notice:

• Sorts and matches objects based on similarities
• Enjoys organising materials
• Constantly asks “why” and “how” to satisfy their growing curiosity
• Proudly states their name and age when asked
• Stays focused on activities for longer stretches of time
• Learns by watching and listening, picking up details from their surroundings
• Begins to understand the difference between past and present events
• Can follow a series of two to four-step instructions with increasing ease
• Has fun playing with words, experimenting with sounds and meanings
• Points to colours and names them with excitement
• Starts grasping concepts of order and sequence in everyday tasks
• Counts up to five, sometimes even going beyond
• Can tell someone their street and town when asked

4. Communication Developmental Stages of a Preschooler

Below are the communication developmental milestones you may notice in your preschooler:

• Early Preschooler (3 to 4 years)

  • Excitedly talks about their day, sharing stories from school or visits to friends’ homes
  • Speaks clearly enough that even strangers can understand most of what they say
  • Forms longer sentences, often using more than four words to express thoughts
  • Easily understands and responds to simple questions

• Later Preschooler (4 to 5 years)

  • Speaks clearly, with nearly every word easily understood by others
  • Forms sentences rich in detail, adding depth to their conversations
  • Tells stories that stay on topic, making them easier to follow
  • May still struggle with a few tricky sounds, but overall articulation is strong
  • Listens to stories and answers simple questions, showing comprehension

5. Sexual Developmental Stages of a Preschooler

By the time kids reach preschool, they have a clear understanding of whether they are a boy or a girl and become even more curious about their bodies. This is also a good time to teach them personal boundaries. Preschoolers can understand that no one, not even family members or trusted adults, should touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable. The way you talk about these topics, including how you react to things like nudity and interactions between genders, plays a big role in shaping their early understanding of personal and social norms.

Contributing to Your Preschooler’s Developmental Milestones

A preschooler’s development also depends on how much you as a parent take care of their needs. Here are some ways in which you can contribute to their healthy growth:

1. Encourage Outdoor Play Times

In today’s digital era, it is particularly challenging for parents to get their kids off the screens and connect with the real world outside. While getting enough sleep is necessary for a growing child, letting them out of the house to play is also necessary. Encourage at least one hour of playtime outside daily for their physical, social, and cognitive development.

2. Reinforce Positive Behaviour

While it is necessary to stop your preschoolers from doing something unacceptable, it is also necessary to praise them when they do something positive to show them that they will get attention even when they do the right thing.

When you praise good behaviour, be specific. Instead of a simple “Good job,” try something like, “I loved how you remembered to say please and thank you just now. That was so polite, and it made me really happy!” Kids are naturally curious and often act out just to see how you will respond. But when they hear praise, it is like getting the answer they were hoping for. So they will be more likely to repeat that behaviour again and again.

3. Acknowledge Their Feelings

Another way in which you can contribute to your preschooler’s developmental milestones is by validating their feelings. Whether your little one is bubbling with excitement, frustrated, or feeling down, take a moment to recognise and acknowledge their emotions. When kids know their feelings matter to you, it gives them a sense of security and reassurance. This is something they deeply need at this age.

4. Give Them Limited Screen Time

A study from 2022 suggests that more than one hour of daily screen time may negatively impact your preschooler’s developmental milestones. To distract your child, try to encourage more outdoor playtime or engage them in other positive activities.

Final Thoughts

Preschoolers should have a set routine for everything. From having their bedtime set to having a daily routine for their playtime, kids thrive on these for good growth. With routines set, your preschooler will reach their developmental milestones successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the preschool stage?

The preschool stage refers to early childhood, typically from ages 2 to 6. During this time, kids start learning to express their emotions and develop social skills. It’s also known as the toy age, troublesome age, or pre-gang age.

2. Who is considered a preschooler?

A preschooler is a child aged 3 to 5 years, learning and growing before formal schooling begins. This stage is marked by rapid social, cognitive, emotional, and motor development. Preschoolers are naturally imaginative and curious as they start gaining independence while exploring the world and building communication skills.