Movement: preschoolers

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What to expect

Your preschooler will probably:

• start to dress (and more often undress) herself between the ages of three and four, and be fully capable of the skill by five
• ride a tricycle by four and start trying to ride a bike with training wheels from age four
• be able to jump over small objects from four
• be able to use scissors quite well by the age of four
• be able to walk up and down stairs confidently from the age of four
• swing on her own on the swing from the age of four
• be able to stand on one foot for a short time, by the age of four
• be able to hop, by the age of five
• enjoy being active – climbing, sliding, swinging and dancing
• learn to tie shoe laces, around the age of five
• learn to skip, around the age of five
• learn to catch a medium-sized ball from the age of five
• throw, use a bat, kick and bounce a ball by five.

Research shows that one of the best things you can do to encourage your child’s physical skills is to just make the time to have fun with her and let her lead the play.

She wants to try out her newly coordinated body and you can offer lots of opportunity for this by taking her to a playground, or simply playing ball games in the backyard.

Suddenly she can jump, skip, hop, climb and swing (sometimes with more zest than coordination while these skills are developing). Small bumps and falls will be common as physical skills are pushed to the limit.

Around now, your child will probably try to ride a bike for the first time (with training wheels and a helmet) and might be keen to join in organised athletic games with other children.

Play ideas to encourage movement

Some ways to enhance movement skills through play include:

• providing sports equipment, such as balls, bats, small beanbags, and tunnels to crawl through
• from about four, getting or borrowing a bike with safety wheels
• playing outdoor games together – at a park or a playground, in the backyard, on a beach, at a football ground
• listening to songs that encourage dancing; this is a great way to practise coordination
• learning the actions to songs together.

If your child does not seem interested in interacting with other children or is largely inactive, it’s a good idea to consult your health professional to discuss her development.

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