Child development quiz: Preschool milestones

Most children can draw a circle by the age of 3. By the age of 4, children typically can draw a person with two to four body parts. They may also be able to print some capital letters.

Understanding the concept of "two" usually doesn't occur until age 3. By the age of 4, most children understand the concept of counting and may know a few numbers. Five-year-old children usually can count at least 10 objects.

While 3-year-olds can sort objects by color, most children can't correctly name four colors until they are 5.

The average 4-year-old child can walk up and down stairs without support. Children typically can use stairs, with support, by the age of 2. They may feel most comfortable taking what an adult might consider "half-steps" on the stairs — bringing their feet together on the same step before venturing to the next one. Three-year-old children usually feel confident enough to take "full steps" on the stairs by alternating feet as they ascend or descend.

Most children complete potty training within three months. If your child is taking longer, consult your pediatrician or family physician. The most probable cause for the delay is that your child isn't mature enough to learn this skill yet.

Make-believe play usually begins by the age of 2. Three-year-old children typically include dolls, animals and people in their make-believe play.

Five-year-old children usually can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. The "magic years" are between 2 and 5 years of age — when Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny seem real. In fact, it's common for a 4-year-old to imagine that many unfamiliar images may be "monsters."

Children typically begin kicking balls when they are 2. They graduate to throwing a ball overhand and catching bounced balls (most of the time) by age 4.

At 3, most children can speak in five-word sentences, using pronouns (I, you, me, we and they) and some plurals. Some stuttering at age 3 is not unusual and is usually temporary. Three-year-olds love strangers and love to talk and can be embarrassingly concrete or direct, which is often humorous. At 4, children tell stories and speak clearly enough for strangers to understand. Five-year-olds can use the future tense and can say their name and address.

Consult your doctor if your 5-year-old child exhibits any of the above behaviors. They could be signs of developmental delays.