Play for Five-Year-Olds

The five-year-old generally like participating in family and school routines. He is able to share, to make friends, to cooperate, to help with family chores, and show affection to younger siblings. He is eager to please, but may find it difficult to admit if he has done something naughty.

Some favorite play activities for five-year-olds include:[1]

Arts & crafts: cutting, pasting, painting, coloring. Also simple weaving, sewing, and jewelry making
Imaginative play with dress-up clothes and props—including lots of acting out family and work roles
Lap reading and for some children, beginning to read books independently
Paper-and-pencil games and games involving number, letter, and word recognition
Computer play
Real cooking or parts of the process with adult supervision
Eye-hand coordination activities: ring or bean bag toss, beginning basketball or other sports
Outdoor games like hopscotch
Activities with ride-on toys and jungle gyms
Gardening and lawn-care play
Musical play

[1] Resources consulted include: (1) By the Ages: Behavior & Development of Children Pre-Birth through Eight by K. Eileen Allen and Lynn R. Marotz. Published by Delmar, a division of Thompson Learning, Albany, New York: 2000; (2) The American Academy of Pediatrics: Caring for Your Baby and Young Child Birth to Age 5: The Complete and Authoritative Guide, by S.P. Shelov and R. E. Hannemann. Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishers, New York: 1994.

Provided By Susan J. Oliver, Tropomedia
This information is provided on behalf of the toy experts at your neighborhood toy store.