Child development and milestones: Your 6-years-1-month-old

Look how far your little one has come! Can you imagine that tiny baby you once cradled in your arms is now going to school? That’s right… your 6 years 1 month old child is moving over to the next milestone as a primary school kid.

Now more than ever, he or she will be cementing new relationships with other children and teachers at primary school as well as taking more interest in co-curricular activities like soccer or music. 

What exciting new milestones should you look out for in your little one? Come on a journey with us through this month of your child’s life and find out. 

As we take you through these important developments, please keep in mind that every child is different and each one grows at their own pace. If you have any concerns or further questions, it is always advisable to visit your paediatrician.  

6 Years 1 Month Old Child Development and Milestones: Is your child on track? 

Physical Development – 6 Years 1 Month Old 

At this stage, your child’s average height and weight* should be as follows: 

• Boys
  – Height: 116.2 cm (45.7 inches)
  – Weight: 21 kg (46.2 lb) 
• Girls 
  – Height: 115.59 cm (45.5 inches) 
  – Weight: 20.5 kg (45.3 lb) 

Your 6 year 1 month old child is more active than ever before so he or she will be more than happy to take part in different types of sports either at school or at home.

This is also a good time for parents to start enrolling kids in classes to further hone their skills and interests. 

During these classes, you might also notice your child’s natural athletic abilities.

This is because their motor skills, hand-eye coordination and ability to concentrate have increased by leaps and bounds.

Apart from that, physical activity is also beneficial for a child’s brain development as it improves memory function (working memory in particular), and overall health as it builds strong bones and muscles and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.

You should be able to also observe the following developments in your child. He/ she: 

• Perfects basic physical skills e.g., jumping, throwing, kicking, and catching 
• Ties shoelaces
• Rides a two-wheel bike 
• Shows improved balance and coordination 
• Can eat meals alone
• Draws and writes with better control
• Recognises and follows the beat and rhythm of music

Tips:

• Encourage physical activity by enrolling your child in sport-based activities in school.
• During the weekends include family physical activities such as biking and swimming.
• Practise healthy eating habits.
• Teach your child about nutrition and involve them while grocery shopping.
• Limit your child’s screen time to one to two hours a day, maximum. 

When to talk to your doctor:

If your child,

• Has poor hand-eye coordination.
• Can’t perform basic tasks like wearing his/her own school uniform. 
• Loses skills he/she once had. 

Cognitive Development – 6 Years 1 Month Old 

Your 6 years 1 month child’s brain is about 90% of an adult’s brain size which means it’s nearly reaching its full capacity. Make sure you continue nurturing that growing brain with plenty of enriching activities. 

You will notice that your child will start to solve problems alone as he/she moves to a more structured environment (which is school) without your presence. 

So, parents, you can expect to see your little one taking on more tasks than usual, independently. 

Children this age are also able to define right from wrong and are likely to publicly reprimand others for mistakes, e.g. if their friend at school takes their pen.

Here are a few other developments on the cognitive front that you may start to notice. Your child:

• Shows the ability to have complex thoughts
• Has increased awareness of right from wrong
• Develops close friendships 
• Can handle complicated tasks at home and at school 
• Has longer attention span

Tips:

• Only offer help when your child comes to you 
• Purchase STEAM toys
• Do maths/counting in everyday situations
• Practise reading together
• Answer your child’s question with a question to encourage critical thinking.
• Teach your child about various issues, from the environment to nutritious diets.

When to talk to your doctor

If your child, 

• has difficulty communicating and playing with others
• cannot take care of himself/herself 
• does not recognise his or her name when called

Social and Emotional Development – 6 Years 1 Month Old 

Your 6 year 1 month old child is a social butterfly and is keen to make friends everywhere – at school, in the playground and even at bus-stops.

He or she might even have “best friends” at school. The majority of the time, this best friend is usually of the same gender.  

However do note that while your child is actively seeking new friends, he/she might still be feeling anxious and nervous in the transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Here are some other developments you may notice in your 6 year 1 month old child. He/she:

• Speaks his/her mind.
• Is eager to make new friends.
• Understands the value of teamwork.
• Has little fear or hesitation when meeting new people. 

Tips:

• Check on your child regularly to see if he/she is coping well with school.
• Educate your child on what bullying is.
• Assign easy chores to your child. 
• Create an environment where your child feels safe to ask anything and everything 
• Teach him or her about respect. 
• Enforce and praise good behaviour. 
• Do not over-schedule your child’s day.
• Teach your child about “stranger danger” and “good touch, bad touch.”

When to talk to your doctor

If your child, 

• cannot stay away from you for too long.
• avoids interacting with kids of the same age.
• is excessively shy or backward.

Speech and Language Development – 6 Years 1 Month Old 

Your 6 year 1 month old child can now speak fluently and confidently, using complete sentences. 

This may also mean that she/she now argues or debates with you, using reason. For instance if you ask your child to eat vegetables he or she may reply “no” and point to the fact that you did not eat your veggies the other day. 

Apart from that, your child may also express a keen interest in reading and writing. 

Let’s take a look at more developments in this arena, Your 6 year 1 month old child: 

• Shows the ability to speak fluently and confidently with complete sentences.
• Can craft simple arguments.
• Is able to use simple present and past tense in a sentence.
• Expresses interest in reading and writing.
• Starts identifying word patterns. 

Tips: 

• Do read bedtime stories to your child and allow him/her to also read to you.
• Refrain from speaking to your child in “baby language”
• Ask your child to tell you about his/her day. This is a great way to encourage descriptive speech and also to pick up on any issues your child might be facing at school. 
• Introduce new words to your child whenever you can, remembering to explain what they mean.  

When to talk to your doctor

If your child, 

• Vehemently avoids reading. 
• Cannot string a proper sentence together.
• Stutters or stammers extensively. 

Health and Nutrition – 6 Year 1 Month Old 

At 6 years 1 months old, your bub’s diet should still be full of healthy and nutritious food. Eating healthy food will help boost your child’s growth and development, and keep him/her growing at a good pace. Your child also needs a healthy and balanced diet to sustain his/her high energy levels, growth, and development.

Its ideal then that you introduce your child to nutrient-dense food like seafood, beans, eggs, and nuts. 

Kids around this age should ideally consume the following on a daily basis:

Typically, the calorie intake for boys and girls of this age are as follows:

• Boys: 1,759 Kcal/day
• Girls: 1,650 Kcal/day 

Since the calorie requirement is above 1600 Kcal, it’s a good idea to supplement your child’s diet with healthy snacks in addition to their meals. But you should  make sure not to give him/her too many snacks as it can ruin his/her appetite.

As usual, exercise is also very important when it comes to your child’s development. It helps keep your child fit, strong, and healthy.

When it comes to your child’s diet, here’s what you need to provide:

Dairy group

It is recommended to give your child two to three cups of milk or dairy products every day. This can also include yoghurt and cheese, but do take give these in moderation. A good intake of dairy products ensures your child grows healthy and strong. 

Protein group

Parents should aim to feed their child protein twice a day.  So, stock up your fridge with ingredients like eggs, tuna, lentils, and chickpeas, as well as lean meat. 

Fruit and vegetable group

Fruits and vegetables are vital for fighting off illnesses and issues like constipation. Do ensure your child gets one to two cups of fruits and vegetables every day. You can start introducing this food group with carrot sticks and hummus dips or in pastas or pizzas where you can generously mix (and hide) veggies. 

Grain

At this stage, your child also needs to be given 4 ounces of grains per day. One ounce of grains equals ready-to-eat cereal, or one slice of bread, or half (1/2) cup of cooked pasta or cooked cereal. So he/she needs four times of this divided the entire day. 

You can choose whole grains, such as oatmeal, quinoa, whole-wheat bread, popcorn, or brown or wild rice. But make sure to limit refined grains such as white bread, pasta, and rice.

In a nutshell, here’s what your child needs every day (refer above for what the amounts look like):

• Fruits: three cups for boys, and three cups for girls
• Vegetables: two cups for boys, and two cups for girls
• Grains: four ounces for boys, and four ounces for girls
• Proteins: 36g for boys, and 36g for girls 
• Milk: 17-20 ounces for boys, and 17-20 for girls
• Water: 1500 ml for boys, and 1500ml for girls (around six cups)

Tips:

• Ensure your child has a balanced meal with foods from different groups.
• Refrain from buying too many sugary drinks and high-fat food. 
• Practise a healthy diet so your child will follow. 

Vaccinations and Common Illnesses

Most of your 6 year 1 month old child’s vaccinations should have already been covered at this age. But its still a good idea to check with your doctor for common ones your child needs on a more regular basis. For instance, the flu shot.

As your child spends more time in school, he/she could expect to contract more common colds and the flu. Also keep an eye out for rashes that develop on your child’s body. Most importantly, encourage your child to tell you if there is any discomfort on his/her body, or if you notice any itching.

Just as a precaution, make sure that child should has the following vaccinations by now:

• DTaP vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
• IPV vaccine that protects against polio
• MMR vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
• Varicella vaccine that protects against chickenpox
• A flu shot which is typically given every year

Check with the doctor if your child’s immunisation records are up-to-date.  

As mentioned, while your child might have had all the vaccines in place, some common illnesses may still worry you. If your child shows signs of severe discomfort, including vomiting, diarrhoea or very high fever (over 38°C/100.4°F), you must consult a doctor. 

Treating Common Illnesses

To manage the three most common medical issues in kids – fever, cough, and cold – you can try the following: 

• Fever: If your child’s fever is below 38.5°C, give him/her plenty of fluids and encourage rest. You could also apply lukewarm compresses to your child’s forehead, armpits, and groin areas. This should help bring the temperature down. However, if your child’s temperature rises above 38°C (100.4°F) you should bring him/her to the doctor and follow medical advice to manage your child’s health.  
• Cough: While coughing is a natural reflex, it can cause discomfort and lead to runny nose and wheezing. To stop at from flaring up, you can first try home remedies such as ginger and honey mixed in lukewarm water. If it persists, take your child to a doctor for treatment and management advice. 
• Cold: Unless it is extremely distressing, you should avoid giving your child any OTC medication for common colds. Colds are caused by a virus and so antibiotics may not help. If the cold is accompanied by body aches and very high fever, it could in fact be influenza. In such case, you’ll need to bring your child to a doctor. 

For other common illness such as chickenpox, its best to consult the doctor if you notice rashes and fever that doesn’t go away after two days. Do not give him/her aspirin as it may cause a complication called Reye’s syndrome, which can cause liver and brain damage. Instead, ensure your child has received one dosage of chickenpox vaccination. 

When to talk to your doctor:

Do contact your doctor or paediatrician if your child: 

• Is well below the average height for this age of approximately 114 cm 
• Has unusual rashes, lumps, bumps or bruises
• Is terribly underweight or overweight
• Has prolonged diarrhoea or vomiting, or has very high fever (over 39 degrees Celsius), you should also immediately consult your doctor.

Previous month: 6 years old

Next month: 6 years 2 months old 

Sources: Mayo Clinic, CDC, Web MD