Preschool Phases
What to Expect in Your Child's Current Phase
Click the arrow next to your child's age:
New Baby
The Phase when nobody sleeps, everybody smells, and one mesmerizing baby convinces you “I NEED YOU NOW”!
Physically
Lifts their head and chest (3-4 months)
Reaches for objects and rolls over (4-6 months)
Sits up and grabs with two fingers (6-8 months)
Crawls (6-10 months)
Stands unsupported/maybe even walks (11-12 months)
Verbally
Has distinctive cries and makes vowel sounds (0-6 months)
Turns toward your voice and makes consonant sounds (3 months)
Mimics your tone and “babbles” (6 months)
Understands simple words (9 months)
Understands around 70 words and says “first words” (12 months)
Mentally
Experiences the word through five senses
Mildly aware of everything and learning fast
Learns best from things that respond to them (people over screens)
Enjoys music, dramatic expressions, silly voices, and things that make you look ridiculous.
Emotionally
Gives the first social smile (6 weeks)
Mirrors expressions (2 months)
Distinguishes happy faces from sad faces (4 months)
Turns away from strangers to show fear (6 months)
Shows surprise at loud noises (7 months)
Your role is to embrace their physical needs
Thinks like an artist – You help them learn when you…engage their senses.
Wants to know, “AM I SAFE?” – You capture their heart when you…establish trust.
Is motivated by safety – You coach their moral abilities when you…consistently meet their physical needs.
This year you will incite wonder so your child will know God’s Love and meet God’s Family!
Ones
The Phase when nobody’s on time, everything is a mess, and one eager toddle will insist, “I CAN DO IT”!
Physically
Sits, crawls, and walks (12-15 months)
Walks backwards and sideways (15-18 months)
Scribbles with crayons (15-18 months)
Walks up and down stairs, jumps in place (18024 months)
Verbally
Points to objects when you name them (18 months)
Says 10-20 words, mostly nouns and pronouns (18 months)
Says 40-50 words and forms two word sentences (24 months)
Still understands more than they can communicate
Mentally
Follows simple instructions
Benefits from repetition
Learns through engaging their five senses
Emotionally
Enjoys role-paly activities
Has trouble sharing
Displays separation anxiety
Recognizes basic emotions in others
Your role is to embrace their physical needs
Thinks like an artist – You help them learn when you…engage their senses.
Wants to know, “AM I ABLE?” – You capture their heart when you…Develop their confidence.
Is motivated by safety – You coach their moral abilities when you…respond consistently.
This year you will incite wonder so your child will know God’s Love and meet God’s Family!
Twos
The Phase when nobody’s on time, everything is a mess, and one eager toddle will insist, “I CAN DO IT”!
Physically
Jumps in place
Throws a ball overhead
Briefly stands on one foot
May demonstrate hand preference
Verbally
Says 40-50 words including some action words like “GO” (24 months)
Says approximately 300 words and simple sentences like, “I can do it” (2 ½ years)
Learns how to whisper (2 ½ years)
Understands more than they can communicate
Mentally
Follows simple instructions
Benefits from repetition
Is unable to take the point of view of other people
Learns through engaging their five senses
Emotionally
May begin to bite, scream, and throw tantrums
Plays next to, rather than with, playmates
Recognizes basic emotions in others
May begin to name their own emotions like, “I am happy”
Your role is to embrace their physical needs
Thinks like an artist – You help them learn when you… engage their senses.
Wants to know, “AM I ABLE?” – You capture their heart when you… Develop their confidence.
Is motivated by safety – You coach their moral abilities when you… respond consistently.
This year you will incite wonder so your child will know God’s Love and meet God’s Family!
Threes
The phase when anything can be imagined, everything can be a game, and one curious preschooler what to know “WHY?”
Physically
Balances on one foot for 5-10 seconds
Strings beads and cute with scissors (the plastic kind)
Walks upstairs with alternating feet
Puts on shoes (Just don’t try to correct them if they put the left on their right foot)
Verbally
Increasingly easier to understand
May struggle with some sounds: r,l,s,z,j,sh,ch,th
Says over 1,000 words (but who’s really counting anymore?)
Answers “what”, “where”, and “when” questions
Mentally
May struggle to understand “real” from “not real”
Unable to take the point of view of others
Lives in the present; has a limited memory of past events
Learns by putting things into simple categories
Emotionally
May scream, throw tantrums and show aggression
Enjoys both physical humor and simple jokes
Can express basic emotions when asked
Can tell you what makes them happy or sad
Your role is to embrace their physical needs
Thinks like an artist – You help them learn when you…engage their senses.
Wants to know, “AM I OKAY?” – You capture their heart when you…cultivate their self-control.
Is motivated by safety – You coach their moral abilities when you…discipline consistently.
This year you will incite wonder so your child will know God’s Love and meet God’s Family!
Fours
The phase when anything can be imagined, everything can be a game, and one curious preschooler what to know “WHY?” Physically
Hops on one foot
Strings beads and cuts with scissors (the plastic kind)
Throws a ball overhand and catches a bounced ball (sometimes)
Draws circles, squares and a person with 2-4 body parts
Verbally
Tells a short story
Keeps a conversation going
May struggle with some sounds: r,l,s,z,sh,ch,th
Adjusts speech based on the listener and location
Mentally
Sorts things and ideas
Recognizes less and more (especially if it’s candy)
Can argue, explain and rationalize (you may have noticed)
Lives in present, but enjoys retelling the story of past events
Emotionally
Tends to be optimistic in spite of failure
Enjoys both physical humor and simple jokes
Can learn relation techniques (take a deep breath)
Often deals with fear and anxiety by distracting themselves
Your role is to embrace their physical needs
Thinks like an artist – You help them learn when you… engage their senses.
Wants to know, “AM I OKAY?” – You capture their heart when you… cultivate their self-control.
Is motivated by safety – You coach their moral abilities when you… discipline consistently.
This year you will incite wonder so your child will know God’s Love and meet God’s Family!
Pre-Kindergarten / Fives
The phase when unfiltered words make you laugh, school drop-off makes you cry, and life becomes a stage where your kid shouts, “LOOK AT ME!”
Physically
Loses incisor teeth (6-8 years)
Grows two to three inches and gains an average of five pounds
Able to ride a bicycle, roller skate, and jump rope
Draws a person with a body
Needs 10-12 hours of sleep each night (me too)
Socially
Wants to please and help adults
Has a hard time asking for help
Needs guidance taking turns and losing well
May show some (not much) gender preference for playmates
Mentally
Can focus on one activity for 5-15 minutes
Recognizes and names numbers, shapes and colors
Knows the difference between need vs. want and real vs. pretend
Doesn’t logically interpret cause and effect
Emotionally
Tends to be optimistic
Can be fanatical about the truth
Benefits from relaxation techniques (take a deep breath)
Expresses feelings better through play and art rather than words
Deals with fear and anxiety by distracting themselves
Highly sensitive to harsh criticism, tone and body language
Your role is to embrace their interests
Thinks like an scientist – You help them learn when you…give them concrete examples.
Wants to know, “DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?” – You capture their heart when you…improve their abilities.
Is motivated by fun – You coach their moral abilities when you…play on their level.
This year you will provoke discovery so your child will trust God’s character and experience God’s family!
Want to know more?
Would you like more information about what the Preschool Ministry of Bear Creek Church can offer you?
Please contact us at Preschool@BCStaff.org.
We'll be glad to send you literature about your child's current phase if you add your postal address.
