Silkysteps early years forum - planning ideas for play - Explain the development and maturational tasks of 3 to 5 year olds

Hi, this is what i wrote :-)

3.2. Explain the development and maturational tasks of a specified age group of children.

Children aged 2-5 years

By the time a child is 2 years old they are very much an individual, they know what they do and don’t want to do and are very keen to do things for themselves. Physically, they are now walking confidently and also enjoy running and climbing too.

When children are 2 years old they become socially aware of other children and although they do not specifically ‘play together’, children of this age enjoy playing next to other children.

Play stages - Mildred Parten

Repetition is strong - schema, with favourite games and activities played again and again. Their cognitive development now enables them to complete simple jigsaw puzzles and they enjoy building with bricks.

Pretend play is also now starting to be enjoyed.

2 year olds frequently chat out loud and their vocabulary now consists of around 200 words.

By the time children are 2 ½ independence is fiercely important. They are anxious to do more things for themselves and often get frustrated when they find they can’t, which leads to temper tantrums developing. They often find it hard to understand why they need to wait for things and cannot always have what they want or to do what they want. Their communication is developing well, with some 2 ½ year olds now connecting two words together. E.g. – ‘drink - no’ and some maybe even starting to use full sentences.

Their physical skills are also developing well – they are now able to pedal a tricycle or push it along using their feet.

Socially, children now start to play alongside - parallel, with other children, often copying what the other children are doing - mimicking or immitating. Pretend play and small-world toys, such as the farm set, garage and cars, dolls house etc… are now favourite activities. Children of this age still find it hard separating from their parents, unless the child knows the other person well - significant person.

They also enjoy helping adults, such as, sorting out the washing, putting things away, etc…

Some children will now be ready for potty training, this could take a few days or be a long process, depending on how ‘ready’ the child is.

When children are 3 years old, temper tantrums start to diminish, as instead of them showing they are not happy, they can now tell us. Their speech is now easily understood.

3 year olds are now beginning to understand the needs of others and are now able to play socially with other children. They are able to cooperate and sharing becomes easier for them.
Children also find it easier at this age to separate from their parents, as they understand that their parents will be coming back again.

Physically, they can now walk upstairs using alternate feet. E.g. – when walking up the steps of a slide.

Their cognitive skills are also developing and most children of this age are interested in mark-making, such as, drawing, painting, chalking etc… and also enjoy looking at and having books read to them.

By 4 years old children’s speech should be easily understood, even by adults who do not know them. Children of this age enjoy talking and also enjoy asking questions.

Most 4 year olds relish from being with other children, they enjoy their company and are beginning to establish friendships and start to have clear ideas on what and who they want to play with. Independence is also developing well, with most children now able to feed themselves and get themselves dressed.

Physical skills, such as threading, pouring and using scissors - fine motor, are now starting to develop too.

Cognitive development enables a 4 year olds concentration span to increase when they are involved in an activity that interests them.

When children reach the age of 5, their physical development starts to slow down and they acquire more confidence and coordination. Their physical development skills now enable them to kick and control a ball, while their handwriting becomes easier to read.

They also gain confidence in communicating and they begin to make up their own jokes.

In England children will now have started full-time school, some finding this transition easier than others. They are able to do simple calculations and their social skills are also improving. Children of this age are eager to work out rules; they enjoy playing games that require rules to be followed.

Their friends now start to become important to them and this age group often have friendship preferences. E.g. – friends they prefer to play with.