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GBAPS

Green Bay Area Public School District

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Typical Development for Ages 3-5

By Age 3 Most Children...

  •    Speak in short sentences
  •    Consistently produce these sounds in words: “m, n, p, b, d, h, w” and all vowels
  •    Have speech that is at least 50% intelligible
  •    Answer simple questions
  •    Begin to ask yes/no questions
  •    Understand position words such as “in, on, under” 
  •    Understand most things said to him/her
  •    Enjoy listening to story books
  •    Enjoy helping adults
  •    Begin to play cooperatively with 
  •    Peers
  •    Match objects and primary colors that are the same
  •    Respond correctly to “Take One” or "Give Me One”
  •    Put four piece puzzles together
  •    Enjoy playdough and fingerpaint
  •    Dress themselves with some help
  •    Pedal a tricycle
  •    Walk up and down stairs-one foot per step
  •    Snip paper with a small scissors
  •    Draw lines with a crayon

By Age 4 Most Children...

  • Frequently ask questions and often demand detail in responses
  • Have speech that is 90% intelligible
  • Use language to express emotion
  • Use pronouns – I, mine, me you, she, he
  • Talk about pictures in a book
  •  Know their own name, age, and gender
  •  Catch a large ball tossed to them
  •  Jump forward or over an object
  •  Cut paper with a scissors
  •  Draw a circle
  •  Are completely toilet trained
  •  Count to 10
  •  Count 1, 2, 3, or 4 objects
  •  Point to at least four colors
  •  Understand “same” and “different” concepts
  •  Engage in pretend play
  •  Ask many questions

By Age 5 Most Children...

  • Generally use grammatically correct sentences 
  • Stay on topic and remain relevant during a conversation
  • Answer questions about a simple story
  • May still mispronounce “s, r, th, l, v, sh, ch, and j”
  • Listen, share, and take turns in a peer group
  • Follow two or three step directions
  • Read a few letters
  • Can state full name, address and phone number
  • Can identify “same/different” among objects, pictures and letters
  • Count to 20
  • Identify colors and shapes
  • Cut following a simple outline
  • Print first name and a few capital letters
  • Draw a person with at least 5 body parts
  • Hop on one foot for at least 5 feet, gallops and skips
  • Dress and undress self except for shoe tying
  • Play cooperatively with others
  • Follow simple game rules in board games or card games
  • Play on playground equipment with good coordination