School-Age Milestones (6 to 10 Years): What to Watch For

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From the pages of the Baby & Child Care Encyclopedia: Chapter 9, Milestones, Checklists and Charts

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By now, most moms and dads think they should have the hang of this parenting thing, but with every new stage of life, there’s something to learn. We’ve rounded up some of the most common milestones kids hit between the ages of six and 10, to help you with this next leg of the journey.

Your child’s growth

Boys and girls grow at about the same rate between five and 10 years old. Girls may be a little heavier. Boys tend to be more muscular and girls tend to have slightly more fat.

Your child’s development

The motor coordination of the school-age child is fast getting to be like an adult. If children have the inclination and opportunity, they can tackle most sports and activities, such as basketball, baseball, dancing, karate or gymnastics.

Your child will gradually perfect paper and crayon or pencil skills. By now, a child can do arts and crafts with dexterity, which helps develop concentration, patience and perseverance.

Language and communication

School-aged children usually have excellent memories and the capacity to absorb new information. By now, your child’s skills take a new form—written communication. Reasoning about people and events develops, as well as a need to explain what happens and why. These explanations may not always be accurate, but they are refreshingly inventive!

Emotional development

School-age children enjoy one of the most stable periods of their development.

By now, your child has established self-regulation, has friends, has selected activities they enjoy and has a sense of purpose through school learning and other regular extracurriculars.

Let kids try a variety of activities until they really land on something they’re passionate about. Some communities have multisport or multi-activity programs that allow kids to try a number of different things over the duration of the course. These programs are great for being active and social and to hon in on what your child may want to pursue more selectively.

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Nipissing District Developmental Screen The NDDS is often touted as the Canadian standard for milestone assurances. The NDDS is a series of checklists designed to give parents a sense of whether their child is hitting age-appropriate developmental milestones, and, should there be a concern, directing parents when to have their child seen by a paediatrician or GP. Parents can register for monthly prompts up to 30 months, and then yearly prompts up to age six, at lookseechecklist.com.

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As you watch your child grow and learn, saving with a CST RESP will help you support their dreams. Visit www.cst.org to learn more.

The Milestones, Charts and Checklists chapter of the Baby & Child Care Encyclopedia has been made possible by CST Consultants Inc. 

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Read more from the Baby & Child Care Encyclopedia.

1. 1. 1. Prenatal 101
      2. Breastfeeding and the First Three Months
      3. Starting Solids and the Toddler Years
      4. An Age-by-Age Guide to Sleep
      5. Family Nutrition
      6. Kids and Mental Health
      7. When Your Child is Sick
      8. Safety and First Aid
      9. Milestones, Checklists and Charts

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