Child at 5 years
Updated 25 Oct 2026
What most children can do at 5 years
Social and emotional
- Your child wants to please friends
- Your child wants to be like their friends
- Your child agrees to rules more easily
- Your child likes to sing, dance and act
- Your child is aware of gender and can tell boys from girls
- Your child can tell what is real and what is make-believe
- Your child shows more independence, for example visiting a next-door neighbour on their own. But remember you still need to keep an eye on them to make sure they are safe
- Sometimes your child demands that others do things their way, but at other times they cooperate quite well with friends and the people around them
Language and communication
- Your child speaks very clearly
- Your child can tell a simple story using full sentences
- Your child uses the future tense, for example using "will" as in "I will go out to play"
- Your child can say their name and home address
Cognitive (learning, thinking and problem-solving)
- Your child can count 10 or more things
- Your child can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
- Your child can print some letters or numbers
- Your child can copy a triangle or other geometric shapes
- Your child knows about things used every day, such as money and food
Movement / Physical development
- Your child can stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Can hop, and may be able to skip
- Your child can do a somersault
- Your child uses a spoon and fork, and sometimes even a table knife
- Your child can use the toilet on their own
- Your child can swing and climb
If your child shows any of the signs below, take them to see a doctor early
- Your child does not show a wide range of emotions
- Your child shows extreme behaviour (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy or sad)
- Your child is unusually withdrawn and not active or lively, not wanting to do things
- Your child is easily distracted and has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutes
- Your child does not respond to people, or responds only superficially
- Your child cannot tell what is real and what is make-believe
- Your child does not play a variety of games and activities
- Your child cannot give their full name
- Your child does not use plurals or the past tense correctly
- Your child does not talk about daily activities or experiences
- Your child does not draw pictures
- Your child cannot brush their teeth, wash and dry their hands or get undressed without help
- Your child loses skills they once had
Things you can do for your 5-year-old
- Keep arranging playtimes with friends and siblings in the family. Give your child more freedom to choose activities to play with friends and let them solve their own problems.
- Your child may talk back or use bad language as a way to feel independent. Don't worry too much about that language. If you want to discipline them, use a gentle approach. Instead, praise your child when they ask for things politely, and calmly say "no" when you don't agree.
- Remember this is a good time to talk to your child about safe touch. No one should touch their "private parts" except a doctor or nurse during a check-up, or parents when keeping them clean.
- Teach your child their address and the phone number to call if something goes wrong
- Encourage your child to "read" by looking at pictures and retelling the story.
- Teach your child about time, such as morning, afternoon, evening, today, tomorrow and yesterday, then start teaching them the days of the week.
- Explore your child's interests in your community. For example, if your child loves animals, take them to the zoo or a petting farm.
- Always keep a small box of crayons, paper, watercolours, craft scissors and glue ready for your child. Encourage your child to draw and create art projects with different materials.
- Play with toys that encourage your child to put parts together.
- Teach your child how to pump their legs on a swing
- Help your child learn to climb on a climbing frame
- Spend time going for walks with your child, play treasure hunts around your home or in the park, and help them ride a bike with stabilisers. Remember to have them wear a helmet and all the proper safety gear.
Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Bluish skin around the lips, hands and feet, or the whole body
A bluish colour around the lips, on the hands and feet, or over the whole body is a sign the baby is short of oxygen. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once.
Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, chest indrawing
Breathing faster than 60 breaths a minute, chest indrawing, flaring nostrils or pauses in breathing are signs of breathing difficulty in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now. If the baby stops breathing or turns blue, call 115.
Convulsions (fits) in a baby
A convulsion in a young baby is a danger sign. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once; lay the baby on their side and do not put anything in the mouth.
Signs of dehydration
No wet diaper for 6 hours, a dry mouth and lips, and few or no tears when crying are signs of dehydration. Sunken eyes, a sunken soft spot, cold hands and feet and excessive sleepiness are signs of severe dehydration and an emergency. Please take your baby to the nearest emergency department now or call 115.
Source: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
Fever of 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs to be seen by a doctor, even if the baby seems otherwise well. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Jaundice spreading to the belly, arms and legs, or appearing early
Jaundice that spreads to the belly, arms, legs, palms or soles, appears within the first 24 hours after birth, or lasts more than 2 weeks needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby in now, especially if the baby is feeding poorly or very sleepy.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
Poor feeding, lethargy, hard to wake
Feeding problems, clearly reduced activity, or a baby who feels cold are danger signs in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Fever after birth
A temperature of 38°C or higher after giving birth can be a sign of infection. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Heavy bleeding after birth
Soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or passing large clots, is a sign that needs emergency care. Call 115 or have someone take you to the nearest hospital now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
You are not alone, and these thoughts need a doctor's support soon. Please tell someone you trust right away and go to the nearest health facility today. If you feel unsafe right now, call 115.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP) (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- CDC (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Triệu chứng suy hô hấp ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: WHO – Newborn mortality (fact sheet)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Trẻ bị sốt, khi nào cần đưa đi khám?
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.