My Baby Stages← to the homepage
Reception age (4–5 years): school and development
Stage: 4–5 years
Sleep
10–12 hoursper 24 hours
all dayawake between naps
usually no napper nap
usually no nap needed any more
Feeding
Eats fully with the family; school rhythm now also means a healthy packed lunch or school dinners, and fruit for snack time. Stay cautious with sugary drinks — water is the norm for school.
Nappy size
Almost always dry day and night.
Development at this stage
- Tells coherent stories
- Hops, balances and climbs confidently
- Recognises letters and numbers, may write own name
- Plays cooperatively with clear rules
- Increasingly able to empathise with others
Play & do together
- First board games: taking turns and (practising!) losing gracefully
- 'Writing' their own name and spotting letters in the street
- Running, climbing and ball games — gross motor skills ready for the playground
- Let your child 'read' a familiar book to you
- Cooking together: stirring, weighing, tasting
Care & things to watch
- Compulsory school age: children must be in full-time education from the term after their 5th birthday (most start reception at 4)
- Check the red book: the pre-school booster (4-in-1) and the second MMR(V) dose should both be done by now — important protection before school outbreaks of measles and whooping cough
- Swimming lessons: water confidence can start from age 4; swimming is part of the national curriculum in primary school, but earlier lessons build safety around water
- Vitamin D: from age 4, a daily 10 microgram supplement is still advised in autumn and winter (year-round for darker skin or little time outdoors)
- Reception health checks: height, weight, vision and hearing are screened in the first school year
- Practise road safety actively: walking and cycling together, naming safe crossing points, high-vis in winter
- Build the school rhythm: a fixed bedtime matters more now — a reception child still needs 10–12 hours of sleep a night
Want this matched to your own baby?
Enter a birth date once and see what matters this week — free, no account needed.
Create your own overview →Other ages: 0–6 weeks · 6–12 weeks · 3–4 months · 4–6 months · 6–9 months · 9–12 months · 12–18 months · 18–24 months · 2–3 years · 3–4 years
Also handy: which nappy size fits? · how much formula per day? · the full weaning plan
📱 Also as a free app: Google Play · App Store