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Human Development: Ages 5 to 6

Child development, or human development, is the process of a person becoming physically, emotionally, and socially mature. The following list of characteristics can be expected for someone who is from the ages of 5 to 6 years old. These characteristics may not be applicable or comprehensive for every individual. This list is part of a series of articles on K12Genie that group children by age and list characteristics  of human development. By providing you with this information, we hope it helps you better understand children and ultimately better relate with them.

Ages 5 to 6

1. Are developing sense of left or right handedness
2. Have fairly good large muscle development though frequently small muscles are not yet able to manage detailed work such as writing or sewing
3. Are usually full of energy, need opportunities for physical movement of both large and small muscles
4. Need concrete objects to manipulate
5. Are beginning to classify objects, identify common properties
6. Are gaining independence in activities
7. Are able to choose their own activities and based on prior experience, may be able to plan and complete simple projects
8. Enjoy the world of make-believe but often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality
9. Can dramatize and role-play incidents in home and community life
10. Have a strong sense of possession–often don’t like to share
11. Begin to be sensitive to differences, both individual and group
12. Seek praise and approval from adults
13. Are exploring forming relationships with other children
14. Read pictures
15. Recognize letters, some words
16. Can retell and invent stories
17. May be able to read words and short sentences
18. Can identify some numbers on a calendar or a clock
19. Can count numbers in sequence up to point
20. Are learning or can identify colors, sizes, shapes
21. Are beginning to be aware of sequence, time, distance
22. Can follow simple oral directions
23. Are learning to see themselves as separate and unique
24. Are building the foundations for life-long trust or mistrust
25. Are building a degree of self-acceptance
26. May go to extremes in behavior