Feeding
- Having many or most meals together as a family is desirable.
Mealtime is a great time to allow the child to tell you of her
day, interests, concerns, and worries. Let your child have plenty
of opportunity to participate in the discussion at the table.
- Food preferences will vary. You need to balance good nutrition
with what your child wants to eat. Major battles over what your
child wants to eat are not worth the emotional cost.
- Good table manners take a long time to develop. Model good
table manners for your child.
Teeth
- Your child should brush his teeth regularly and should have
regular visits to the dentist.
- Parents need to check their child's teeth after she has
brushed.
- Flossing the teeth before bedtime is recommended.
- Permanent teeth may soon come in or may have already started
coming in.
- The pits of the permanent teeth are prone to cavities; parents
and dentists need to watch the teeth carefully and consider
whether sealants (plastic coatings that adhere to the chewing
surface of the molar teeth) may help prevent tooth decay.
Physical Development
Your child will grow at a slow but steady rate over the next 2
years. See your child's care provider if your child has a rapid gain
in weight or has not gained weight for more than 4 months.
- Loves active play but may tire easily
- Can be reckless (does not understand dangers completely)
- Is still improving basic motor skills
- Is still not well coordinated
- Begins to learn some specific sports skills like batting a
ball
- Dawdles much of the time
- Is fascinated with the subject of teeth
- May become a more finicky eater
- Uses crayons and paints with some skill, but has difficulty
writing and cutting
- May resist baths
- Permanent teeth erupting, both front teeth or molars
Mental Development
- Likes taking responsibility for simple household chores
- Likes to make simple decisions
- Counts to 100
- Asks endless "how-what-when-where-why" questions
- Continues to refine concepts of shape, space, time, color, and
numbers
- Begins to understand the difference between intentional and
accidental
- Begins to understand differences of opinion
- Still has a short attention span (about 15 minutes
maximum)
- Enjoys dramatic play
Social Development
- Evaluates self and friends
- Begins to impose rules on play activities
- Cooperates with other children with some difficulty
- Has difficulty considering the feelings of others
- Values independence
Emotional Development
- May have unpredictable mood swings
- Is quite sensitive to criticism
- Has a problem admitting a mistake
- Feels quite guilty about mistakes
Activities
- Kids can start to develop life-long interests in sports, arts-and-crafts
activities, reading, and music.
- Encourage participation in activities. Remember that the goal
of competition is to have fun and develop oneself to the greatest
capacity. Winning and losing should receive limited
attention.
- Physical skills vary widely in the age group. The sports that
kids will excel in will vary depending on whether the activity
requires endurance (such as, distance running), power (such as,
swimming), or excellent visual skills (such as, baseball or
softball).
Behavior
- Kids at this age like to take risks. They act confident and
think they will not get hurt. Watch them closely, especially when
they are near busy roadways, open water, or near a fire or
electricity.
- Kids seem to have boundless energy. Prepare in advance for
ways to let your child enjoy physical activity.
- Dawdling is a normal response at this age and demonstrates
that a child is having a difficult time planning and thinking
through the steps of accomplishing a task.
- Adults play important roles in the life of children at age 6.
Children will develop close relationships with teachers. It can be
upsetting to a child when adults they love (including teachers) go
through difficult times or changes.
- Wetting the bed at night is a problem for a few children. If
your child still wets the bed regularly, ask the doctor about ways
to help decrease this behavior.
Safety
Fires:
- Practice a home fire escape plan.
- Check every month to make sure that smoke detectors are working properly.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
- Tell you child about the dangers of playing with matches or lighters.
- Teach your child emergency phone numbers and to leave the
house if fire breaks out.
- Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F (50 degrees C).
Cars:
- Make sure your child always uses a booster seat until at least
60 lbs. and he is tall enough for the car's lap and shoulder belt
to be positioned correctly.
- Do not buy motorized vehicles for your child.
Pedestrian and Bicycle
- Starting kindergarten school is a big step in your child's life.
- Your health care provider can help you evaluate your child's skills to determine
if she is ready for school.
- Discuss concerns about your child's school readiness at your clinic visit.
School Readiness Skills:
- Supervise street crossing. Your child may start to look in
both directions, but don't depend on his ability to cross a street
alone yet.
- Buy and use a bicycle helmet for all bicycle-riding members of
the family.
- Do not allow your child to ride a bicycle near busy
roads.
- Children who ride bicycles that are too big for them are more
likely to be in bicycle accidents. Make sure the size of the
bicycle your child rides is appropriate. Your child's feet should
both touch the ground when your child stands over the bicycle. The
top tube of the bicycle should be at least 2 inches below your
child's pelvis.
Trampoline:
- Health professional groups advise avoiding the use of outdoor
trampolines.
Heights:
- Make sure windows are closed or have screens that cannot be
pushed out.
Strangers:
- Discuss safety outside the home with your child.
- Be sure your child knows her home address, phone number and the name of
her parents' place(s) of work.
- Remind your child never to go anywhere with a stranger.
- Be firm about your child's attendance at school.
Discourage Interest in Tobacco Products
The unhealthy effects of tobacco are well recognized. Parents are
influential in teaching children to avoid tobacco.
- If a parent smokes, the parent should set a quit date and stop
smoking. Modeling nonsmoking is a powerful example with important
health consequences.
- Talk to your child about smoking and its many harmful effects.
Immunizations
Your child should already be current on all routinely recommended
vaccinations. Sometimes influenza shots are recommended at this age
depending on your child's health. Be sure to bring your shot record
to all visits with your doctor.
Next Visit
Your child's next routine checkup will be at 7 years of age.
Additional Health Resources
Credits:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Pediatric Behavioral Health Advisor
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