What to know
Find example photos and videos of developmental milestones that most children can do by five years of age. Milestones are listed by domain.
Social/Emotional
Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Sings, dances, or acts for you
The child in this video is singing for her mom, a 5-year social/emotional milestone.
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
Language/Communication
Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
The child in this video tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events, a 5-year language/communication milestone.
Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
The child in this video tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events, a 5-year language/communication milestone.
Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
The child in this video keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges with her mom, a 5-year language/communication milestone.
Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
The child in this video is showing that she uses and recognizes simple rhymes, a 5-year language/communication milestone.
Cognitive
Counts to 10
The child in this video is counting to 10, a 5-year cognitive milestone.
Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
The child in this video is naming numbers between 1 and 5 when her mom points to them, a 5-year cognitive milestone.
Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
The child in this video is using words about time, like "yesterday" and "tomorrow", a 5-year cognitive milestone.
Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
The child in this video is paying attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities, a 5-year cognitive milestone.
Writes some letters in her name
The child in this video is writing some letters in her name, a 5-year cognitive milestone.
Names some letters when you point to them
The child in this video tells names some letters when her parent points to them.
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