Growth

Body

• I will grow at my own rate. My growth rate may be very different from other children and even from my own brothers and sisters. Ask our doctor or community health nurse for a growth chart to keep track of changes in my height and weight.
• My rate of growth will slow down for the next 7 years or so. I will probably have a growth spurt when I am around 12 years old.
• I might reach my adult height when I am in my early teen years or I might grow until I am 20 years old.

Teeth

• My baby teeth will start to fall out when I am about 6 years old. I will start to get my permanent teeth when I am between 6 and 8 years old and will continue to get new teeth until I am about 12 or 13 years old. My wisdom teeth will probably come in after I am 17 years old.
• To prevent cavities, I need to brush my teeth with a child’s soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• I can practice brushing my own teeth but I need your help to brush and floss my teeth at least once a day (bedtime is the best time) until I am about 8 years old.
• I should visit my dentist regularly.

Development

Language

After 5 years old:

• I will speak clearly and with good grammar.
• A person who does not know me should understand almost everything I say.
• I might still have problems saying the r, l, s, sh and th sounds.
• I will talk for fun, friendship or to achieve a purpose.
• I can carry on conversations and tell complete stories.
• I understand humor and know when people are joking.
• I like to listen to you read me all kinds of books, such as alphabet books, fairy tales and rhyming stories like Dr. Seuss.
• I might get ear infections. If I seem to be having trouble hearing, take me to a doctor as soon as possible.
• If I am not talking clearly and doing the things above, take me to a Speech Language Pathologist.

Movement

• I am much stronger and have more energy than when I was younger.
• I can run and play a game at the same time, like soccer.
• I am good at hopping and skipping.
• I can learn how to ride a two-wheel bicycle, with your help.
• I can use my hands to do things like tying shoelaces, using a knife and fork or hitting a nail on the head with a hammer.
• I can draw a picture of a person with a body, arms, legs, feet and at least 4 other body parts.
• At 5 years old, I can probably print simple words and my own name with a pencil.