Regarding Child's Developmental Milestones...

A child is brought to your clinic for a routine examination. She can put on a T-shirt but requires a bit of help dressing otherwise. She can copy a circle well but has difficulty in copying a square. Her speech is understandable and she knows four colors. She balances proudly on each foot for 2 seconds but is unable to hold the stance for 5 seconds.

Which of the following is the most likely age of this child?
a. 1 year
b. 2 years
c. 3 years
d. 4 years
e. 5 years

Answer:
d. 4 years

Discussion: Four- and five-year-old children should be able to copy a square and a cross; children younger than this age have difficulty with this task. By 4 years of age, their language should be fully understandable by the examiner. Children begin to be able to name four colors, define five words, and know three adjectives.
A 4-year-old child can stand on each leg for 2 seconds, and by 5 years of age that skill can be maintained for at least 5 seconds. A 4-year-old child may require some help with some clothing, but by 5 years of age they are able to dress themselves independently, skip, and ask questions about word meaning.