Milestones for preschoolers

Developmental milestones are a guide, and every child is different in their development. 

These milestones check how your child is growing and help find potential issues early.

If you’re worried your child isn’t meeting a milestone for their age, talk to your family doctor or child health nurse. They can help with early checks and support if your child needs it.  

Early intervention

Children have sensitive periods for development.  Early checks and support (called early intervention) are essential to help your child reach their full potential.     

The milestones below are generalised and do not consider how disability or impairment can affect the way a preschooler learns, moves, speaks or interacts with others.

Movement

Gross motor skills use larger muscles in the body to help children perform basic movements such as walking, running, and jumping.

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the wrist, hand, fingers, and even toes. They help your preschooler interact with the world in more detail.

At three years old, your preschooler will learn to:

  • put on some clothes by themself, like loose pants or a jacket
  • draw shapes on paper after some instruction
  • use a fork
  • string artwork items together, like large beads or dried macaroni.

At four years old, your preschooler will learn to:

  • hold a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
  • pour items such as cereal or water, with adult supervision
  • unbutton their own clothing
  • catch a large ball more consistently.

See Physical activity for more information.

Language and communication

Language skills involve the ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, and needs through spoken words.  

At three years old, many children know how to: 

  • ask “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “where is mummy or daddy?”
  • say their first name when asked
  • say what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating”, or “playing”
  • talk well enough for others to understand them the majority of the time 

At four years old, many children can: 

  • speak in sentences with four or more words
  • talk about at least one thing that happened during their day, for example, “I played soccer”
  • answer simple questions like “What is a crayon for?”
  • say words from a familiar song, story, or rhyme 

Social and emotional

Social and emotional skills refer to your child’s ability to positively interact with others as well as understand and manage emotions appropriately. 

At three years old, many children can: 

  • calm their emotions within 10 minutes after you leave them, for example, at childcare drop-off
  • notice other children and join them to play 

At four years old, many children can: 

  • change behaviour based on where they are, for example, at the playground or a place of worship
  • want to be a “helper”
  • play cooperatively with other children
  • engage in imaginative play and pretend to be someone else, for example, a teacher, dog or superhero
  • comfort children who are upset, injured, or sad
  • ask to play with other children if they aren’t around