God is seen in practical terms by the five year old. She wants to know what God looks like, where He lives, what He does, does He have a car? can you call Him on the telephone? Death likewise is taken in a matter of fact way. He vaguely understands the finality of death but thinks of it in terms of no longer having living attributes. The dead person no longer sees, hears or feels. He understands that the dead person is in Heaven and thinks of Heaven in very concrete terms as being up in the sky. He doesn't think in terms of his own death or the death of his immediate family members, instead relating death to being old. He may ask the parents if they will die when they get old. (Gesell, et al, 1977)
Five's concept of time and space is HERE and NOW. He really does not and cannot think beyond that. It's difficult for him to think there was a time when he did not exist and only grasps far away places if they have a personal significance to him ("My grandmother lives in California.") (Gesell, et al, 1977)
Source: Gesell, Arnold, Ilg, Frances L., Ames, Louise B., and Bullis, Glenn E., The Child From Five to Ten, 1977, Harper & Row
Ideas for Home, School, and Play
Tell the stories of your faith to your children. Relate the beautiful things they see to God's creation and care. When your child hears news of war and tragedy in a far off place, he may feel very fearful for his own safety because he doesn't have a grasp of geography. Don't expect your child to understand planning for future events or to have good insight into the future consequences of his actions. Give consequences here and now for good and bad behavior.
The Five Year Old Child
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Book Series by Louise Bates Ames
- Your Five Year Old: Sunny and Serene Compare Prices
- Your Six Year Old: Loving and Defiant Amazon
- Your Seven Year Old: Life in a Minor Key Amazon
- Your Eight Year Old: Lively and Outgoing Compare Prices
- Your Nine Year Old: Thoughtful and Mysterious Amazon
- Your Ten to Fourteen Year Old Compare Prices
