What’s happening at this age?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the time between the ages of 6 and 8 mark your child transition into “middle childhood”.
- Your child should begin to feel more confident in being able to meet life’s challenges.
- This sense of personal power continues to develop from having successful experiences solving problems independently, being creative and seeing results from their effort.
- During middle childhood, they get better at expressing themselves.
- You should also notice that your child cares more for others.
- During this time of growth, physical activity and a focus on safety are important for healthy development.
Major Milestones
Developmental milestones are things that most children can do at these ages. These are the middle childhood milestones according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
6-8
Social and Emotional
English
- Show more independence from parents and family.
- Start to think about the future.
- Understand more about his or her place in the world.
- Pay more attention to friendships and teamwork.
- Want to be liked and accepted by friends.
Thinking & Learning
- Show rapid development of mental skills.
- Learn better ways to describe experiences and talk about thoughts and feelings.
- Have less focus on one’s self and more concern for others.
Positive Parenting Tips
- Show affection for your child.
- Help your child develop a sense of responsibility
- Talk with your child about their lives
- Encourage your child to be respectful and to help people in need.
- Help your child set her own achievable goals
- Help your child learn patience by letting others go first or by finishing a task before going out to play
- Make clear rules and stick to them
- Do fun things together as a family
Child Safety First
- More physical ability and more independence can put children at risk for injuries from falls and other accidents
- Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of death from unintentional injury among children this age
Healthy Bodies
- Practice healthy eating habits and physical activity early
- Make sure your child has 1 hour or more of physical activity each day and limit screen time to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day
Delays
What if I notice a delay?
If you are concerned about any developmental delays your child may be experiencing, ask your child’s doctor or nurse, or talk with someone in your community who is familiar with services for infants and toddlers in your area.
Screenings
How important are regular screenings?
The checklists you find here are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools such as those that might be administered by your child’s doctor. Ask your child’s doctor about his or her developmental screening.
