The Language Development of a Six Year Old
Most six-year-olds are either entering or attending first grade, have a noticeably longer attention span than their preschool years, and are starting to feel more confident in their own abilities, according to PBS.org. Although they are growing out of some of the more frustrating habits of a very young child, six-year-olds still need direction, supervision, predictable routines, and strong support from their parents, according to the website. A six-year-old's language development reflects that in-between stage of not a baby, but not really a big kid either.
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Reading
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By age six, a child's reading skills are developing and starting to emerge, but he will still enjoy and want a parent or caregiver to read to him, according to child-development-guide.com, an online resource for childhood development issues. Some six-year-olds are readers, but many do not perfect the skill until seven or eight, according to child-development-guide.com. Parents or caregivers who want to foster a love of reading in a six-year-old should set an example by reading themselves, which will help the reading habit kick in for the child, according to the website.
Vocabulary and Grammar
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By six, a child's language is increasing in complexity, and her vocabulary continues to increase, according to PBS.org. In fact, many six-year-olds understand 13,000 words or more, according to comeunity.com, an online resource for parents of children with special needs. Six-year-olds also start using adult-like grammar and can understand the meaning of most sentences, according to the Shelton School, the nation's largest private school for students with learning disabilities.
Specific Milestones
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While children develop at different paces, there are some specific language milestones to expect from a six-year-old. He should be able to names the days of the week as well as understand opposites and some prepositions, according to the Shelton School. According to the school's website, he will also be able to give his name, his birthday, his address and be able to distinguish left from right.
Pronunciation
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By age six, gone are the endearing mispronunciations of the toddler and preschool years. A six-year-old should be able to pronounce most of the sounds from her native language, according to child-development-guide.com. A six-year-old who speaks English should be able to correctly pronounce v, f, sh, zh and th, according to Math and Reading Help for Kids, an online source written by teachers for parents.
Potty Mouth and Talking Back
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One negative side effect of a six-year-old's growing language skills is rise of potty mouth (bad language usually related to using the toilet) and talking back. Children this age know that bad language gets a rise out of parents and caregivers, but typically can not comprehend the full meaning of their words or the impact of those words on others, according to babycenter.com. Babycenter also notes that six-year-olds may also be using foul language to fit in with friends or to express anger based on examples they've seen from parents, caregivers or television. Parents should set firm limits and should clearly explain how a six-year-old's bad language can hurt others, according to babycenter.com.
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