Although motor development (see full Glossary) slows down, children continue to refine their fine and gross motor skills. They are, in fact, quite energetic and need to move around quite a bit during the day.
GROSS MOTOR
(see full Glossary)
Most children at this age can:
- ride a bicycle without training wheels (Fig. 1);
- run very well;
- stand on one foot for as long as a minute;
- hop forward on one foot;
- catch small and large balls from several feet away;
- jump rope (Fig. 2);
- combine two or more motor movements (For example: run and kick a ball at the same time);
- perform somersaults (Fig. 3) and cartwheels (Fig. 4).
Figure 1. Riding a bicycle without training wheels
Figure 2. Jump rope
Figure 3. Somersault
Figure 4. Cartwheel
FINE MOTOR
(see full Glossary)
Most children at this age can:
- write legibly;
- copy words with ease;
- hold a pair of scissors and cut complex shapes with it (for example, letters);
- use the tripod position (Fig. 5) when holding a pencil or pen;
- stay inside the lines when coloring;
- type (Fig. 6) sentences on a computer keyboard;
- use an eraser without tearing the page;
- tie a knot;
- tie shoelaces (Fig. 7);
- have good posture (Fig. 8) when writing.
Figure 5. Tripod position
Figure 6. Typing
Figure 7. Tying shoelaces
Figure 8. Good posture
Did you know?
- Children at this age engage in a lot of intense activities and require an average of ten hours of sleep every night.
- A child’s muscles are much more coordinated at this age and he or she has good balance.