5 Year Old Development: Milestones, Behaviour and What to Expect

Every child grows and develops in their own unique way - there’s no single path or perfect timeline. The early years are a time of incredible change and it’s completely normal for children to move through different stages at their own pace. You might notice your child showing skills or behaviours that overlap across several age groups or developing certain abilities earlier or later than expected - that’s all part of their individual journey.

It’s also worth remembering that there can be a big difference between a child who has just turned five and one who is nearly six. Development doesn’t happen in a straight line; it’s full of leaps, pauses and moments of sudden growth.

Children thrive when they feel loved, understood, important and safe - something I have talked about a great deal here. When these foundations are in place, our children's brains are ready and eager to learn.

In this post, we’ll explore what life looks like with a five year old -  a stage full of imagination, new skills and emotional growth. This isn’t a checklist, but a way to understand and celebrate how your child is growing right now.

What Is Normal Behaviour for a 5 Year Old?

Five year olds are learning to balance independence with connection. They’re often capable and imaginative, but still need reassurance and emotional support as they navigate big feelings and new environments.

Typical behaviours may include:

• Showing a need for quiet or calm time (even if their behaviour looks quite the opposite!)

• Forgetting to use words when angry or overwhelmed

• Needing adult help to calm down

• Displaying inconsistent behaviour or volume - loud one minute, quiet the next

• Feeling sensations in their body they don’t yet understand (“my tummy feels funny”)

• Expressing fears of getting hurt or making mistakes

• Dressing themselves, including doing some zips and buttons

• Engaging in rich imaginative play and storytelling

• Writing their name and simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words

• Beginning to follow simple rules in games

💡 Tip: Even though five year old can appear very independent, they still rely on co-regulation - your calm presence helps them manage strong feelings.

Communication and Language Development at 5 Years Old

By five, most children are confident communicators. They can express ideas clearly, tell stories and begin to understand how their words affect others.

You might notice your 5 year old:

• Using longer, more complex sentences

• Telling detailed stories or describing recent events

• Understanding and following classroom-style instructions

• Beginning to read and write simple words

• Using a wider range of vocabulary to explain feelings and experiences

✨ Tip: Encourage storytelling, rhyming games and reading together. These support both language development and emotional understanding.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

At this age, children are developing empathy and social awareness. They’re learning how to manage friendships, solve small conflicts and recognise their own and others’ emotions.

You may notice your child:

• Expressing their feelings more clearly

• Beginning to consider how others feel

• Building and maintaining friendships with peers

• Taking turns and following agreed rules in play

• Still needing support to manage frustration or disappointment

💡 Tip: Model emotional language - phrases like “I can see you’re frustrated” or “You’re sad that it didn’t work” teach empathy and self-awareness.

Physical Development

Five year olds are growing in strength, coordination and fine motor skills. They enjoy testing their abilities and mastering new tasks that make them feel capable.

You might see your child:

• Using a variety of tools confidently such as pencils, paintbrushes, scissors, knives, forks and spoons

• Showing a preference for one hand (dominant hand emerging)

• Balancing, hopping and skipping with coordination

• Following rules in group or outdoor games

• Dressing themselves independently

✨ Tip: Provide lots of hands-on, creative activities - from cutting and drawing to outdoor climbing - to build fine and gross motor skills.

Key Takeaways for Parents

• Five year olds are curious, imaginative and increasingly self-aware.

• Emotional regulation is still developing - they may need help calming down.

• Communication, empathy, and friendships are growing fast.

• Encourage independence while offering reassurance and connection.

• Celebrate their efforts, not just outcomes - confidence grows from feeling understood.

4 Year Old Development: Milestones, Behaviour and What to Expect

6 Year Old Development: Milestones, Behaviour and What to Expect

Hi, I’m Emma, Early Childhood Expert and founder of Everyday. My goal is simple: help parents understand their children better, so connection deepens, guidance becomes clearer and every stage feels a little brighter. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the extraordinary - it’s about the everyday.