Development

• Skipping, walking on tip-toes, broad jumps and active games are popular between 5 and 6 years of age.
• Dresses and undresses without supervision.
• Common to still wet bed at night and occasionally in day when busy.
• Identifies coins, names 4-5 colors, knows age.
• Knows most of alphabet.
• Copies triangle from illustration.
• Draws a person with head, body, arms and legs.
• Curious about sexuality.

Activities

• Promote interactions with other children.
• Set up and clear table.
• Clean own room â€" basic effort.
• Help with household tasks.
• Be active with your child, walk to the playground, bike, garden.
• Music-dancing.
• Read a minimum of 20 minutes a day.
• Keep screen time (TV,video,computer) to less than 1 hour a day. Consider TV/screen free days.

Safety

• Teach water safety, consider swim lessons, wear life jackets on dock or boat.
• Helmets on bikes, skates and scooters. Booster seat in car. See www.boosterseat.org for more information about booster seats.
• Continue stranger training. Teach your child not to accept food, rides or help from people without checking with you. Identify "helping" and safe strangers in community. Discuss touching that is appropriate and inappropriate. Identify people your child can talk to if they feel uncomfortable.
• Teach your child about your home fire plan, meeting location and how to get out.
• If there are guns in your home, lock them and store ammunition separately under separate lock. Talk to your children about gun safety.
• Teach your child how to call 911 and give address in emergency. Emphasize this is not a game. Learn phone number before starting kindergarten.
• Poisonings are common events. Lock up medicines, cleaners, detergents, & antifreeze. Syrup of Ipecac is no longer recommended for home treatment of poisoning by the American Academy of Pediatrics, although some experts continue to recommend its use in certain situations. In case of ingestion of poisons, call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately prior to giving Ipecac.

Parenting

• Discuss both your child's feelings and your feelings. Review the best/worst thing about your day and your child's day.
• Listen carefully. Child-directed play continues to be very important.
• Find time for yourself and your spouse.
• Don't over- schedule your child during kindergarten, especially if full-day program.
• School readiness: indicators include taking turns, following directions, expressing ideas clearly, ability to function alone and in a group.

Nutrition

• Educate about eating a balanced diet and the reasons for it.
• Eat together as a family, with no TV. One meal for everyone if possible.
• Encourage milk and water. Limit juice and sweetened drinks.
• Do not reward /comfort with food. Go to the playground or library instead of going for a cookie or ice cream!
• Vitamins are not necessary unless you need fluoride supplementation. If you are concerned that he/she doesn't eat a balanced diet a multivitamin is okay.

Dental Hygiene

Continue taking your child to the dentist every 6 months. Ask for fluoride supplements if your child drinks non-fluorinated water.

Tests Today

Vision and hearing screenings.

Immunizations Today

Recommended immunizations at this age include MMRV (vaccine for MMR and Varicella), DTaP and IPV.

Next Visit

Please make an appointment when your child is 6 years old.

Books/Resources

• Positive Discipline for Preschoolers by Jane Nelsen et.al
• You can't make me by Cynthia Tobias
• How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and E. Mazlish
• Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman, PhD
• www.aap.org
• www.seattlechildrens.org