Communication Tips
For 5 Years Old

• Play simple board/card games (Checkers, Snap, Tic Tac Toe)
• Let the child make up stories to tell or act out for you
• Talk about what's happening in your life (yesterday, today, tomorrow.)
• Let your child dress up like you and play grown-up
• Ask your child to tell you about their day (What was the activity today? Did you paint or colour today? What story did you hear today?)

• Involve the child in "jobs" around the house - they love to help
• Have your child help "bake", talk about the amounts you measure, what order the ingredients are added, and how long your "treat" will bake
• When playing, ask your child thinking questions, such as "Why?", "How?", "What if...?"
• Read longer stories to him and talk about why/how things happened, moral to the story, etc.

• Understands long verbal direction; ("When grandpa arrives, tell him I'm outside and help him take his bag upstairs")
• Understands many descriptive words; ("sort/hard", "long/short", "tallest/shortest", "top/bottom")
• Understands "3"; ("Give me 3 forks")
• Points to colours; ("Show me the green one")

• Uses complete sentences, usually grammatically correct
• Uses these sounds but may be hard to say, "r", "th", "ch","v".
• Explains what words mean
• Repeats the days of the week in sequence
• Explains reasons and answers questions like, "What would you do if...?"

• Acts out long stories with a plot and play roles of characters
• Plays cooperatively with friends for long periods

• A child who appears "shy" and won't interact with other children or adults
• A child who does not use complete sentences
• A child who has trouble following directions.