Final answer:
By age three, children can copy a circle. As they approach ages four and five, they develop the fine motor skills necessary to copy more complex shapes such as squares and triangles, as well as improve their overall cognitive and motor abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preschool Children's Ability to Copy Shapes
A preschool child, which typically includes ages 3-5 years old, develops significant cognitive and fine motor skills during these years. By the age of three, most children have the ability to copy a circle, and as they grow, their ability to replicate more complex shapes improves. Developmentally, a three-year-old can already copy a circle, and by the age of four or five, children often develop the capability to reproduce other shapes such as a square and triangle. They exhibit improved control with pencils or markers, allowing them to trace letters and shapes with greater precision. They are also able to build three-dimensional structures with blocks, indicating their growing spatial awareness and cognitive development. By five years old, many preschool children have honed their fine motor skills enough to cut on a line with scissors, color within the lines, and carry on conversations, showing vast improvements in both their physical coordination and cognitive abilities.