Your preschooler will grow and develop at a different pace than their peers or siblings. There are some typical behaviors that you may see as they reach new milestones.
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Overview
Development
Learn how preschoolers experience physical and emotional development:
- Emotional development ages 2 to 5 years
- Milestones for 4-year-olds
- Milestones for 5-year-olds
- Your child’s feelings (HealthLinkBC File #92c)
Screen time
The Canadian Pediatric Society provides advice on screen time and preschool children. Limiting screen time for young children supports optimal and healthy development. Parents and caregivers can use the Four M's of Screen Time as guidance to support the use of digital media in positive and safer ways:
- Minimize screen time for young children, with evidence suggesting that children under two should not have any screen time outside of video chatting with loved ones
- Mitigate the risks by being present and engaged when screens are used, whenever possible, and curating the types of media children use
- Be Mindful about the use of screen time and remember that too much screen time means lost opportunities for play and connection. Develop a family plan for screen time
- Model healthy screen use by turning off devices during family time, both at and away from home
Play
Play is an important part of a child’s development. Play teaches children how to interact with siblings, other children and caregivers. Allowing time for play helps children learn to use their imagination and develop motor and social skills. Learn ways you can set up activities and create time and space for children to play.
- How to teach your child by example
- Your child and play from birth to 3 years (HealthLinkBC File #92a)
Speech and language
Speech and language skills develop during the first few years of life. As your preschooler grows you may worry about your child’s speech and language development. Learn about what you can expect at different stages and which signs to watch for that could mean your child should see a health care provider.
- Encouraging language development in your preschooler
- How reading helps language development
- Speech and language delays: Common misconceptions
- Speech and language development
- Speech and language development: Red flags
- Speech and language milestones, Ages 3 to 5 years
- Speech problems: Normal disfluency
- Stuttering
- Thumb-sucking
Useful resources
A resource with information and suggested activities to support parents and caregivers with connecting and communicating effectively, reducing stress and supporting their child’s behaviours, including sharing and helping, play and kindness.
Watch full-length kids shows for free and without ads. Parents can find videos that inspire kids and help them learn about the world around them. Programming is offered by Knowledge Network, B.C.'s public educational broadcaster. Download the app to watch on a tablet, mobile device or connected TV.
