Development at 62 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Speech, Language And Communication Development
Able To Infer, Compare, Generalize, And Predict Events After Hearing A Story
 Many questions that are asked are based on making predictions, inferences, comparisons and/or generalizations. In order to predict, I have to gather details I have heard, and then predict what may happen next. To make inferences, I have to reason (i.e. If Sam did ____ what will you do?). Making comparisons requires me to look at how things can be similar or different. General questions require thinking about details of the story and putting them together to reach a decision (i.e. Why did Sam go to sleep?). Aren't I just amazing? I usually develop the ability to infer, compare, generalize and events after hearing a story when I am between 60 and 72 months old (5 years and 6 years). |
Steps
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Remind your child of a story he has heard or read before. (Make sure he is familiar with the story).
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Ask questions such as, "Do you remember what happens to the little girl/boy in the story?" Other questions include the 'who, when, where, why' and 'how' of the story.
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Observe if your child is able to answer simple questions about the story.
Feedback
In order to be able to interpret what an author is saying in a story, your child must be able to understand the meaning of words, have a background of similar experiences, and a reasonable attention span. To further enhance growth and maturity, try reading non-familiar stories to your child and ask 'What, Where, When, Who, Why' and 'How' questions. Be sure that your child has had previous experiences similar to those related in books and stories. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, if your child has not been horse riding before, it would be more difficult for him to relate to and make inferences or comparisons about questions on horse riding. Secondly, it helps with moving from literal to interpretive listening comprehension. Third, it is easier for your child to apply the same reasoning to things not mentioned in the story. You may also look at Suggested Activities for more ideas.
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Continue practice with 3-4 picture stories and gradually move to simple stories with repetitive phrases throughout so that it's easier for your child to recall and answer simple questions.
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Instead of asking about a story that your child has heard in the past , you may want to read part of a familiar story so that your child gets to hear it one more time before answering questions. You may also want to read part of the story and stop to ask a few questions before carrying on with another part of the story. Slowly increase the amount of information that you child has to cope with.
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Once he is able to carry out the above, try asking your child questions about a recently heard/ read story. Have the book with you to use the pictures as visual cues when he forgets parts of it.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Social Development
Demonstrates Good Sportsmanship
 I learn what it means to be a good sportsman by watching adults play sport and by playing with other children. Being a bad sport when I lose can make my friends dislike me and adults not want to play with me. I will be much more popular when I try to be a good sport after I lose. A good sport means not crying, whining, showing anger and not giving up when I lose. I can accept that winning and losing are part of the game. I will demonstrate good sportsmanship in losing between 60 and 66 months (5 years and 5 year 6 months). |
Steps
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Play any preferred competitive game with your child. E.g. board games like snake and ladders, kid's basketball, etc.
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Engineer your child's losing.
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Observe whether your child is able to accept losing in a game.
Feedback
Social skills, like being a good sportsman are developed mostly when the opportunities are given. It is great if you can see that your child is able to accept losing graciously. He may not feel good when he loses. But he understands that winning and losing, just like going first or second are all part of a good game. Expose him to more group games with both children and adults. Let natural situations teach him to be a good sportsman in losing and winning.
Look at some ideas to help your child to develop his sportsmanship.
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If you observe that your child is having difficulty losing, and you are the leader of the group, stop the game. Use it as a teaching opportunity to teach all the children about ‘good winning’ and ‘good losing’ and that losing and winning are part of a game.
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Role-play what it means to be a good sportsman when someone loses. Teach your child what it means to be a good sport when he loses. Teach him specifically that when he loses, he has to
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Stay in the group.
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Cheer and have fun watching others.
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Excuse himself if he really cannot control his feelings.
Teach him that when he wins, he should:
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Thank others for the game.
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Tell others "It's ok, you can try again".
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Include your child in simple competitive sports, like kids basket ball, kids football with the family. Modeling good sportsmanship to him is probably the best way to teach him about losing and winning graciously.
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Borrow stories books about being a good sport using your child's favorite character. Make a special sticker attached to the end of the story. Use the sticker to motivate him in a real situation when he either wins or loses.
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