Question 80

Neil's son has most likely begun to tie his shoes.

At five years old, children typically develop the fine motor skills necessary to perform tasks like tying their shoes, which require more dexterity and coordination.

A) Ride a tricycle

While riding a tricycle is a skill that develops in early childhood, it primarily involves gross motor skills rather than fine motor skills. This activity does not specifically highlight the fine motor achievements that Neil is bragging about.

B) Hop on one foot

Hopping on one foot is a gross motor skill that usually develops around the age of four. It does not reflect the fine motor skills that are more advanced and would be expected of a five-year-old.

C) Use the pincer grasp to play a game

The pincer grasp is a fundamental fine motor skill that develops earlier, around the age of two or three. By five, children are expected to have mastered this skill, so it does not represent a recent achievement for Neil's son.

D) Tie his shoes

Tying shoes is a fine motor skill that typically develops around ages four to five, requiring precision and coordination. This achievement is a significant milestone that aligns perfectly with Neil’s bragging about his son's recent accomplishments in fine motor skills.

E) Build a tower with ten blocks

Building a tower with blocks is a fine motor skill but is generally expected to be mastered by the age of three or four. By five years old, children are usually ready for more complex tasks like tying shoes, making this option less representative of a recent achievement.

Conclusion

Tying shoes is a complex fine motor skill that signifies a child's developmental progress at age five, making it the most suitable option among those provided. The other options either represent earlier developmental milestones or gross motor skills, which do not align with the context of Neil's pride in his son's recent achievements in fine motor skills.