Developmental milestones at 5-7 years

• Major motor skills
• Fine motor skills
• Language
• Vision and hearing
• Social achievements and play
• When to be concerned

Major motor skills

Children aged 5–7 years old can skip, and have strong ball skills.

Fine motor skills

Children can colour pictures and will learn to tie their shoe laces.

Language

Children’s writing skills develop, usually beginning with their name. Reading skills are developing, and they can talk fluently and confidently.

Vision and hearing

Children should demonstrate everyday visual competence for near and far.

Social achievements and play

Children choose their own friends, dress/undress themselves, show caring behaviours, have an understanding of rules and will argue.

When to be concerned

Some children are slower to reach these age-appropriate milestones, but will often catch up. Others have not been exposed to certain skills and so wouldn’t be expected to develop them. For example, a child who only wears ‘slip-on’ shoes or shoes with velcro straps is unlikely to learn to tie shoelaces by age seven.

More information

For more information on developmental milestones in childhood, including recommended health check-ups and childhood immunisation, see Developmental Milestones.

References

1. Sheridan M. Birth to Five Years: Children’s Developmental Progress (2nd edition). Australian Council for Educational Research; 1997.
2. Parenting and Child Health: Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service. Child development: 0-3 months [online]. Adelaide: Government of South Australia. 11 September 2008 [cited 31 October 2008]. Available from URL: http://www.cyh.com/ HealthTopics/ HealthTopicDetails.aspx? p=114&np=122&id=1963
3. Slater A, Hocking I, Loose J. Theories and issues in child development. In: Slater A, Bremner G [eds]. An Introduction to Developmental Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing; 2003, 34-63.