Your Growing Child: Early School 5-6 years

Source: one tough job

Even though your child is getting older and increasingly independent, remember that, at this age, your family is still the center of your child's universe.

By early-school age, children have a stronger sense of right and wrong and develop greater capacity for friendship and teamwork. They understand time and will start to actively plan ahead for activities that interest them like a play date with a favorite friend or the details of their birthday party. Children age five and six will begin to think and have feelings about the way they are growing and how they may look different from their peers.

The transition to school is a big milestone for children this age. They are more aware of the rules of conduct and will try harder than before to meet these expectations. Don’t be surprised if your child comes home from school more clingy or teary than usual. He will need some time to adjust to the longer days and the increased expectations at school.

Most children this age are able to take care of many of their day-to-day needs like feeding, dressing, and grooming, and they are able to entertain themselves for longer periods of time. This means that your role as a parent of an early school child may begin to shift to focusing more on meeting his emotional needs. Remember that, at this age, your family is still the center of your child’s universe. Plan simple activities like going for a walk around the neighborhood or a family game night to continue fostering a great relationship with your child.

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