What most children are doing around 5 years
These are milestones most children — 75 percent or more — can do by this age, from the CDC’s 2022 “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklists, with Canadian guidance from the Canadian Paediatric Society. Think of it as a picture of typical, not a finish line. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
This isn’t a quiz, and there’s nothing to score. You can’t fail it and neither can your child. It’s a way to enjoy noticing what’s emerging — and to know what tends to come next.
Social and emotional
- follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- sings, dances, or acts for you
- does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
Language and communication
- tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events, like a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them
- keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- uses or recognizes simple rhymes, like bat-cat or ball-tall
Cognitive — learning and problem-solving
- counts to 10
- names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- uses words about time, like "yesterday", "tomorrow", "morning", or "night"
- pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities, not counting screen time
- writes some letters in their name
- names some letters when you point to them
Movement and physical
- buttons some buttons
- hops on one foot
Every child is different
All children develop skills at different times — the Canadian Paediatric Society notes it’s normal for a child to be ahead in some areas and still emerging in others at the same time. A child who took their first steps “late” and one who took them “early” usually both end up running around the playground. If your child was born early, look at their corrected age: their actual age minus the weeks they arrived early.
Canadian Paediatric Society — child developmentWhen it’s worth a chat with your provider
You know your child best — that’s the CDC’s own starting point. It’s worth mentioning to your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner if: your child isn’t meeting one or more of the milestones on their age’s list; your child has lost skills they once had (this one matters at any age); or something just feels off to you — a parent’s concern is reason enough.
None of these mean something is wrong. They mean a conversation is useful, because if support is ever needed, earlier is easier. What to ask for: a developmental screening (routinely recommended around 9, 18, and 30 months, with autism screening at 18 and 24 months); if concerns remain, a referral to a specialist; and in Canada, your provincial or territorial early-intervention or child-development program — you don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to ask.
CDC — Concerned About Your Child's Development?