Introduction: Preschool and School-Aged Children: Merck Manual Home Edition


	Sections		Children's Health Issues

	Chapters		Preschool and School-Aged Children

Introduction

Between the ages of 1 and 13, children's physical, intellectual, and emotional capabilities expand tremendously. Children progress from barely tottering to running, jumping, and playing organized sports. At age 1, most children can utter only a few recognizable words. By age 10, most children can write book reports and use computers. Physical, intellectual, and social development, however, proceed at an individual pace.

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Milestones From Ages 18 Months to 6 Years
Age	Gross Motor Skills	Fine Motor Skills
18 months	Walks well Walks upstairs holding on	Draws vertical stroke Makes a tower of 4 cubes
2 years	Runs with coordination Climbs on furniture	Handles a spoon well Turns single book pages Makes a tower of 7 cubes
2½ years	Jumps Walks upstairs and downstairs unaided	Scribbles in a circular pattern Opens doors
3 years	Mature gait in walking Rides tricycle	Favors using one hand over the other Copies a circle
4 years	Walks downstairs, alternating feet Hops on 1 foot Throws ball overhand	Copies a cross Dresses self
5 years	Skips Catches a bounced ball	Copies a square Draws a person in 6 parts
6 years	Walks along a straight line from heel to toe	Writes name

Last full review/revision May 2006 by Eve R. Colson, MD