What to expect and when

Are you eagerly awaiting the major milestones your child will hit this year? The good news: There are several. Your kindergartner will speak clearly in full sentences and generally use the right words to indicate what she means. Kids this age are usually completely self-sufficient in the bathroom, and many can tie their own shoelaces. Your child will also become much more independent. Adults (such as teachers) and her peers will play an increasingly important role in her life as she becomes more social. To learn more about the milestones your kindergartner will master in the upcoming year, read on.

Cognitive development

Talking milestone

What to expect your kindergartner to achieve by the end of the year:

• Uses past, present, and future tenses accurately
• Recalls and can repeat a sentence of at least eight words
• Talks in complex sentences that often run together

Social and emotional development Separation and independence milestone What to expect your kindergartner to achieve by the end of the year: Shows more interest in peers and adults outside of the family Tests the limits of her independence — sometimes to the point of being rude Physical development Self-care milestone What to expect your kindergartner to achieve by the end of the year: Ties shoelaces May show interest in taking a bath on her/his own Makes her/his bed Self-sufficiency in the bathroom What to expect your kindergartner to achieve by the end of the year: Stays dry almost all the time Handles toileting needs on her own Still needs supervision in public bathrooms for safety reasons