Developmental Milestones for 6-Year-Olds
Key developmental milestones children typically reach at this age, based on CDC, WHO, and Montessori frameworks.
What your child is working on right now
Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Sings, dances, or acts for you
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table
Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events
CDC Developmental Milestones
Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Social/Emotional
Sings, dances, or acts for you
Social/Emotional
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table
Social/Emotional
Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events
Language/Communication
Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them
Language/Communication
Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
Language/Communication
Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Language/Communication
Counts to 10
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Uses words about time, like 'yesterday,' 'tomorrow,' 'morning,' or 'night'
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Writes some letters in their name
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Names some letters when you point to them
Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)
Buttons some buttons
Movement/Physical Development
Hops on one foot
Movement/Physical Development
Montessori Sensitive Periods
Interest in reading and writing — child begins encoding and decoding written language
Language
Developing empathy and conflict resolution — understanding others' feelings and working through disagreements
Social Behavior
Reggio Emilia Approach
Narrates or explains own artwork — describes what they made and why, connecting visual expression to verbal language
Hundred Languages of Expression
Builds on another child's idea — extends, modifies, or responds to a peer's contribution during collaborative work
Social Collaboration & Community
Co-creates a shared product with peers — works together to complete a mural, construction, story, or performance
Social Collaboration & Community
Sustains investigation over multiple sessions — returns to a topic or project across days, building on prior discoveries
Investigation & Inquiry
Compares observations and draws conclusions — notices similarities and differences, describes patterns or changes over time
Investigation & Inquiry
Uses outdoor spaces for intentional exploration — collects natural materials, observes weather patterns, or tends a garden
Environment as Third Teacher
Helps create documentation of a project — contributes drawings, dictates descriptions, or selects photos to represent their learning
Documentation & Reflection
Reflects on own learning process — describes what was hard, what they changed, or what they want to try next
Documentation & Reflection
Activities to Support Development
Animal Walk Relay
Race across the room using different animal movements: crab walk, frog jump, penguin waddle.
Backyard Camping
Set up a backyard campsite for adventure, stargazing, and storytelling. Works even without a tent.
Bird Watching
Introduce kids to bird watching. Builds patience, observation, and connection to nature.
Board Game Night
Board games teach math, strategy, patience, and good sportsmanship. Our top picks for 5-8 year olds.
Building a Fort Together
Collaborate to build a blanket fort, making decisions and dividing tasks as a team.
Category Naming Game
Name as many things as you can in a category — animals, foods, colors — racing the clock.