What Is It Like to Be 5 Years Old? A Glimpse through Stories, Movement, and Growing Attention
- Frédérique and the Wooden Fellows
Mme Rigolotte and I launched a series this year, inviting everyone to step into the shoes of a young child at various ages, from birth to five. Our purpose is to raise curiosity about early childhood, whether or not you spend time with little ones every day.
So far, we’ve explored what it’s like to be an infant, a 1-, a 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old. Today is the last post of the series with being 5 year-old.
Quick note. While we base this series on milestones from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), the wooden Fellows and I would like to remind everyone that every child develops at their own pace. We hope you know we aim to celebrate here each child’s uniqueness, whether or not they meet traditional milestones, as well as their neurodivergence, physical or cognitive disabilities, or health conditions. And actually, this is another reason why raising curiosity is so critical to us – when you become curious about young children, you naturally start appreciating the individuality of every child, and find joy in celebrating those differences.
Five years old! What a milestone for a child and the grown-ups around them. With no surprises, 5-year-olds become more independent, more social, and more curious. They engage in more extended conversations, posing more profound questions. In the U.S., this age also often marks the start of Kindergarten, their first formal step into elementary school. I still vividly remember the first day of Rosie’s.
Let’s take a closer look at the world of a five-year-old—our final look up in this series—with guidance from Mme Rigolotte, of course. Drawing from the CDC’s developmental milestones, she has decided to focus on reading (as you know, Mme Rigolotte loves books!), physical development, and attention span.
Once Upon a Five-Year-Old: The Magic of Reading Together
Five is a magical age to read with, as children at this stage become increasingly interested in stories, characters, patterns in language, and rhymes. They find joy in anticipating what comes next and often connect emotionally with characters quite well. Their imagination is endless, making reading time the perfect time to invite them to add on to the story by inventing new characters or offering their own endings.
Picturebooks also open the door to questions to explore together, from “what” and “why” to “what would you do?”, and “how do you know?”, making it quite a special time to enter into young children’s thinking and interests. Also, a discussed many times on this blog, picturebooks can serve as a launchpad to explore early math, and five years old is just perfect for that—counting objects, noticing shapes and patterns, or comparing sizes of characters. Put on your mathematician lenses and let the fun begin!
Watch Me Move: The Joy of Growing Stronger
Five-year-olds are also becoming more physically capable and independent. From hopping on one foot to running, to finding balance on a bike, this is the age to go farther and farther. And it does not stop with gross motor skills, as using buttons and zippers becomes easier too — not to mention the big milestone of tying their own shoes : )
This is also a stage when many children love to sing, twirl, and move in response to rhythm or emotion. Not sure what to do with a five-year-old? Put on some music and dance!
From Scribbles to Stories
Another area to point out: children’s attention continues to increase. They can stay engaged in stories that are meaningful and engaging. They are increasingly drawn to art and creative expression. Do you remember our post on drawing? It can indeed become a unique time when you learn so much from a child by taking the time to slow down and listen. As they grow more confident in drawing and begin writing their first words, five is the perfect age to offer opportunities to explore various art materials and create books and stories that will be cherished for years to come.
Those words are just a snapshot of the endless possibilities of a five-year-old. As they burst with creativity and a growing sense of independence, it is a beautiful time to nurture connections through stories and conversation. With a bit of imagination and time, those shared moments become a unique opportunity for learning and growth together. Enjoy them to their fullest!
The post is based CDC’s Developmental Milestones, as well as stories from my experiences as an early childhood educator, researcher, and parent.
