KINDERGARTNERS
Adapted from YARDSTICKS by Chip Wood
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF
Five-Year-Olds
Five, overall, is a time of great happiness. Life is
"good," says the five-year-old. Five is also a time of great change.
During this one year, children may go from being cautious and compliant to
uncertain and oppositional.
S O C I A L
- Early in the year, like to
help, follow rules, and be "good"
- Later, may test or oppose
adult authority or show uncertainty (not sure whether to be "good or
"naughty")
- Need consistent rules and
enforcement; respond well to clear and simple expectations
- Need empathetic discipline
as they test limits and make mistakes
P H Y S I C A L
- Better control of running,
jumping and other large movements
- Need lots of physical
activity, including free play
- Still awkward with writing,
handcrafts, and other small movements
- Early in the year, pace
themselves well; later, tire quickly
- Pencil grip changes from
three-fingered to other grips
- Able to see close objects
best; not yet able to sweep focus smoothly from left to right
- Copying from blackboard is
hard
C O G N I T I V E
- See only one way to do
things; rarely see other viewpoints
- Imaginative and believe toys
and other objects are alive
- Think very literally
("raining cats and dogs" means cats and dogs are falling from
the sky)
- Often reverse letters and
numbers
- Early in the year, like to
copy and repeat activities; later, like to try more new activities
- Often think out loud before
acting ("I'm going to move the truck")
- Learn best by exploring
materials such as blocks, clay, finger paints, rocks, and shells