Developmental Pointers for Parents (5 years)

Physcial: Needs many simple games and activities. Allow him to be independent and do things for himself. Express your confidence in him. Provide him with opportunities to utilize newfound skills and perfect them. Give him an opportunity to cut, paste, put puzzles together, and engage in physical activities.

Mental: Give him many opportunities to talk, question, and comment. Be an attentive listener. Give opportunities for reading words and phrases. Build truth upon truth. Give simple tasks and responsibilities; and provide opportunities for problem-solving, such as riddles, thinking games, and questions. Be patient with this humor, and be willing to laugh with him. Provide opportunities for drawing and telling about his ideas.

Social: Be sensitive to his need for your approval. Encourage friendship. Talk about how others feel when people are kind or unkind. Focus upon positive relations with others, such as loving and expressing gratitude to others. Give many opportunities for pretending, dramatizing, pantomiming, and using puppets.

Emotional: Give the child an opportunity to share feelings about the family. Express love to the child, show your affection. Take advantage of positive emotional traits; praise the child for his work and responsible efforts. Be sensitive to things that embarrass him, and avoid these as much as possible. Teach right behaviors and attitudes that can be incorporated into his daily living.

Spiritual: Help him know right from wrong. Do not be shocked if he tells an untruth, but help him learn to accept responsibility for his own actions.