Child Growth: Kindergarten 5 Years (Child Development Information) - Child Development

5 Years

EATING
Children at this age can make very pleasant tablemates. They often love to help set the table, choose menu items, serve themselves, and eat and chatter at the same time. Five-year-olds also seem to need to get up frequently during a meal — a habit that fortunately tends to diminish in the sixth year — and often want to eat the same thing four out of every seven days. Five-year-olds also have a tendency to dominate meal-time conversation — so much so that there may be little time for actual eating, or meals may seem long and drawn out.

Children this age should be given guidance in food choices. Without parental guidance (and parents who set a good example), most kids will select junk foods such as chips and cookies every time over vegetables and other wholesome foods. Although healthy food choices and adequate intake are important, children should not be expected to clean their plates, or to eat adult-size portions.

SLEEPING
Unlike the toddler and preschooler, who often go to sleep with difficulty but arise cheerfully with the birds, 5-year-olds are often easier to get to sleep, but grouchier in the morning. Night waking is much less common among 5-year-olds, perhaps because children this age do not take naps. If children are already accustomed to an established routine, bedtime usually goes well. In fact, bedtime stories may be the child's favorite time of the day. Almost all 5-year-olds enjoy being read to, but most also like to look at the books themselves. Some even recognize certain words or can read for themselves. Even before they can read, kindergarten-age children often memorize passages of favorite books, a skill that is directly linked to reading later on.

PLAYING
Let your child be the guide in choosing and encouraging physical activity. Be aware that the physical and interactive skills needed for team sports such as soccer and baseball are not usually fully mastered by most children for another year or two. That's not to say that you can't begin to teach your child the rules of the game and help them to enjoy team sports, but you might consider beginning with sports such as swimming, skating, or dancing — activities in which children can "compete" against themselves. Hiking is a wonderful way to spend time together (without a television), get some exercise, and learn about nature all at the same time.

Children often try several sports or activities before they find the right one. The secret to introducing your child to athletics and exercise is simple: Have fun! There are many ways that parents can make physical activity a positive experience for their children early on, including:

Don't insist that your child join a team just because you did.
Try to downplay the competitive nature of many sports. Children shouldn't be pressured to perform.
Make sure your child isn't participating in a particular sport just to please you.
Remember that play at this age actually is supposed to be all fun and games. Don't commit your child to an adult's exercise schedule. A 5-year-old may well be miserable after an hour-long tennis lesson, but 10 to 20 minutes on the court will be a blast.

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