Active play for the five year old (1066)

The five-year-old is full of questions and loves to explore new things. Field trips to various sites in the community are a lot of fun with this age group. Spend time talking about what you see and understanding the new things you have learned.

Five-year-olds enjoy imitating grownups, so make sure you have items available for dramatic play. Household items, junk from the office, or empty containers make for hours of fun for playing house, store, or office. Puppets are also a big hit with this age group.

At five years of age, your child will enjoy having playmates. The social aspect of play is very important to them. Five-year-olds can catch and throw a ball and enjoy many active games with friends. Outdoor play is big on their list of favorite activities. Make sure you provide items like balls, jump ropes, hula-hoops, and other items to encourage physical activity.

Books are another big part of play, and many five-year-olds are starting to read on their own. Fairy tales are a favorite, and so are stories about other five-year-olds. Cards and board games are a lot of fun for this age. Their attention span is much longer, and many games will improve counting and reading skills.

Watch the amount of time you let your five-year-old spend in front of the television, computer, or video games. She is missing out on many other learning opportunities and may not be getting enough physical exercise if she sits too much.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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