Reading and maths matter, but children also need other skills that are rarely taught directly. Here are five, with ideas for ordinary days. For activities by age, try the activity finder.
1. Fine motor skills These are the small movements of the hands and fingers needed for writing, buttoning, using scissors and tying laces. - Play with dough, clay, building bricks and puzzles. - Threading beads, cutting paper, using tweezers or tongs. - Drawing, colouring and painting. - Helping in the kitchen: stirring, pouring, spreading. - Craft projects, such as making loom bracelets or sewing.
2. Emotional skills Children learn to recognise and manage feelings by talking about them. See nurturing emotional intelligence. - Name feelings as they happen. - Read picture books and ask how characters feel. - Make a calm-down routine, such as breathing or a quiet corner. - Let them see you cope with feelings.
3. Critical thinking - Ask "why?", "how do you know?" and "what if?" - Let children make predictions, test them and say what happened. - Do puzzles, board games and simple experiments. - Compare and sort things: what is the same, what is different? - Talk about the news and stories at a level they can handle.
4. Creativity - Offer open materials: boxes, paper, paint, fabric and found objects, and let them decide what to make. - Make up stories, songs and games. - Praise ideas and effort rather than the finished product. - Reuse and repair things together; see upcycling and personal growth.
5. Executive function Planning, self-control and remembering, discussed in executive function. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child notes that these skills develop through practice and supportive relationships. - Games with rules and turn-taking. - Routines for getting ready. - Giving small jobs, like setting the table or feeding a pet. - Asking a child to plan a simple outing or meal.
What helps children succeed? There is no single list. Research on child development points to a caring adult, a stable routine, chances to play, good language experience, enough sleep and food, and physical activity; the NHS recommends active play every day. The EEF's work on parental engagement finds that practical help, such as shared reading and talk, is more useful than general encouragement alone.
What skills do five-year-olds learn? Children vary a lot. Typically, by around five, many can: speak in full sentences, retell a story, recognise some letters and numbers, draw a person, dress themselves and take turns. If you have concerns about development, talk to a health visitor or your GP.
Choose two or three things a week, make them fun, and stop when your child is tired.