Five-year-olds combine ideas into more complex relationships, have a growing cognitive capacity and continue to develop more language / communication, fine and gross motor, math and science skills. Their adaptive and social skills allow them to function better, both within groups as well as independently. They are becoming better at negotiating solutions with peers and collaborate more in play and on projects. They also display a growing interest in the functional aspects of written language.

For five-year-olds, formalized instruction focuses on the introduction of literacy skills, a Language Arts curriculum which introduces reading and writing skills. This includes letters and sounds, easy word recognition, rhyming, poetry and literature, while promoting print-rich activities and environment. All of this helps to stimulate the development of language and literacy skills in meaningful contexts. Other skills in math and science are also developed, often in an integrated way, to insure that children have the overall and specific skills necessary for a successful transition into elementery school.