6 Years
Developmental Milestone
Movement: Children can control their body movements better as compared to last year. They will also have better control of their muscle movements and will enjoy running, jumping, and other physical forms of play. They’ll be able to try high-level movement skills like riding a bike or playing catch. They will also have a lot of energy, so it is good to spend time being active outdoors. They will also be more skilled at using tools, drawing, and writing. They’ll be able to tie shoelaces and button up their shirts.
Brain Development: As they grow older, their attention span is developing, and they can understand more complex tasks. They will also start learning jokes and riddles. Kids at this age will have a simple view of the world and will want equality and fairness. When they see others not doing the right thing, they might tell other kids. This may cause some tension in friendships. Check out this article to understand why they do this and what you can do to help prevent the conflicts that may arise [article]
Physical: Kids at this age have started to grow their molars. These are the back three teeth in the jaw and are used for grinding teeth.
Social-Emotional Milestone
At this age, kids will want to be just like her friends and will look for praise. They will want to hang with individuals that are of the same gender. Peer pressure is a large factor at this age. The opinions of their friends are more important to them than what their parents say. Look out for Cliques and Bullying. Although they are better at telling you how they feel, their emotions may still be hard to control, so it’s possible to see whining or Tantrums. They’ll have growing confidence and will be proud of doing tasks on their own. Children are also at a stage when they are more likely to take a risk so make sure to put safety first. They will have fears such as fear of monsters, kidnappers, and maybe even large threatening animals.
Did You Know
Did you know? The first permanent molars of a child are called “6-year molars” and usually come in around their 5th to 7th birthday. Their second permanent molars are called “12-year molars” and grow when a child turns 11 to 14 years old. An adult will have an equal of 12 molars.
Action Items
To develop their motor skills, encourage your kids to play outside. They will love to play catch, jump rope, or go through obstacle courses.
Try to establish a routine that you can follow through daily. For example, set up nighttime routines, activities for after school, or play dates with friends. This helps bring a sense of security within your kids.
Every interaction is a teaching moment. Make a habit of asking your child about other people’s feelings. Ask questions like, “How do you think Anna felt when she couldn’t come over?”
Create a conversation with your child and make sure you truly listen to what they are saying. As specific questions such as “Who did you eat lunch with?” or “Who did you play with today?” Overall, make sure that your child can turn to you when problems happen.