A child of 4 to 5 years can follow complex directions and enthusiastically talks about things that happen to him. He can make up stories, listen attentively to stories, and retell stories himself. At this age, children usually are able to understand that letters and numbers are symbols of real things and ideas, and that they can be used to tell stories and offer information. Sentence structures now incorporate up to eight words, and vocabulary is between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Most children this age should have intelligible speech, although there may be some developmental sound errors and stuttering , particularly among boys.
Preschoolers generally are able to make comments and requests and give directions.
They should know the names and gender of family members and other personal information. They often play with words and make up silly words and stories. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.