This is how your child develops at the age of 5 to 6 years
Children between the ages of five and six are in the process of preparing for school enrolment. They can dress on their own, they have learned how to relate to their peers and obey rules. Find out what development is typical at this age and what your child should be able to do.
Running and motor skills: Increasingly complex movement sequences
At the age of five to six, your child is in a better position to learn difficult movement sequences, because body control is constantly improving. It can hop, balance, jump and land on one leg without falling over. This is because the sense of balance improves.
Many children as young as five to six can even learn to jump rope or ride a bike, both of which are difficult physical activities to coordinate. Your child can now close buttons or zippers on their own and learn how to tie a bow.
Most children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Climb stairs easily hands-free and with foot change
- Hop on one leg and stand for several seconds
- Run fast
- Spread bread alone
- Balance safely or walk in a straight line
- Jump from a standing position
- Close buttons and zippers alone
- catch a ball
Half of children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Learn to jump rope
- Use a knife while eating without any problems
- Learn to tie a bow
Few children aged 5 to 6 can:
- Good jump rope
- Cycling without training wheels
- Tie a bow
Speaking and understanding: counting and telling
Normally, by the time your child is six years old, they should be able to correctly pronounce all the sounds of their mother tongue. Otherwise, there may be a speech or language disorder . If so, you should definitely talk to your pediatrician.
At the age of five to six, your child’s ability to tell stories will continue to develop. This is why children of this age can relate stories or experiences in a logical, coherent and chronologically relatively correct manner. At this age, the first attempts at writing and reading are usually made.
Most children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Pronounce all sounds correctly
- Write your own name
- Count to at least ten
- Listening and understanding what is being said
- Speak almost without grammatical errors
- Tell stories logically and coherently
Half of children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Write down several numbers and simple words
- Understand and explain pictures
- Recite songs or sayings by heart alone
Few children aged 5 to 6 can:
- Write some numbers and words independently
mental skills and games
Children also make great mental strides by the age of six. This is made clear, for example, by the fact that the pictures drawn by the children are becoming more and more detailed and clear. The child has understood that the viewer wants to understand the picture and therefore makes an effort to depict objects in the correct arrangement and colour. Children aged five to six are now able to draw small, detailed drawings with fine motor skills. Children of this age also become more skilled with other filigree handicrafts.
Most children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Draw very detailed pictures
- accept game rules
- Collect items such as rocks, leaves, stickers, etc.
- Solve jigsaw puzzles with 20 pieces
- Handle scissors
Half of children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Thread even very small beads
Few children aged 5 to 6 can:
- Solve jigsaw puzzles with up to 60 pieces
Social contacts and personality
At the age of five to six, children begin to get along better in groups. They have understood that you sometimes have to take your interests back and make compromises in order for a joint game to be successful. Your child is getting better at following rules at this age and is beginning to evaluate themselves in comparison to others. It also develops a strong sense of justice.
Most children by age 5 to 6 can:
- decide for yourself
- Develop a sense of justice
- learn to lose
Half of children by age 5 to 6 can:
- Give up every now and then
- Gradually assess your own strengths and weaknesses
Few children aged 5 to 6 can:
- Well do without