Which characteristic is typical of a five-year-old who may have a developmental delay?

A typical characteristic of a five-year-old who may have a developmental delay is the inability to sit still and listen for 5 minutes. At this age, most children are developing their attention span and should be able to focus on activities, listen to stories, or engage with peers for a short duration. A child who struggles with this ability may be exhibiting signs of a developmental delay, indicating challenges with attention and self-regulation, which are crucial for successful participation in both educational and social settings.

Understanding this behavior is important in identifying children who might need additional support or interventions. Other typical behaviors, such as alternating feet while walking, being able to follow a series of directions, and forming sentences that exceed four words, are generally expected from children at this developmental stage and could indicate that they are developing skills appropriately rather than showing signs of a delay.