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School Age 

6 years and up

Gross Motor

6 to 7 years:​

  • Skips with good balance 

  • Kicks with accuracy

  • Stands on one foot for 8-10 seconds 

  • Hops well for long distances 

  • Catches tennis ball with 2 hands

 

8 to 10 years:

  • Rides a bike without training wheels

  • Hops on one foot

  • Able to jump rope

  • Runs around obstacles without losing balance

  • Able to cross monkey bars without assistance

  • Enjoyment of rough/tumble play

  • Increased large muscle coordination - leads to interest and success in organized sports

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11 to 13 years:

  • Ability to apply skills in individual and team sports

  • Learn to adjust movement and coordination skills to match demand of activity

  • Participate in a variety of activities, organized or individual, that utilize large and small motor skills

Fine/Visual motor

6 to 7 years:

  • Able to draw and color with more control and precision

  • Begin to write simple words and sentences 

  • Forms most letters and numbers correctly

  • Demonstrates controlled pencil strokes

  • Has good endurance for writing

  • Begin to learn to tie shoes with laces

  • Can build with Legos, blocks, etc. independently

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8 to 10 years:

  • Improved hand strength and dexterity needed for learning

  • Refinement of finger control and in-hand manipulation skills

  • Maintains and builds on legibility of writing 

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11 to 13 years:

  • Proficient with in-hand manipulation skills (shift, rotation, translation) 

  • Increased endurance and stamina with fine motor tasks 

  • Continuous refinement of finger control, precision and legibility with handwriting

Social/Play

6 to 7 years:​

  • Begin to enjoy dramatic play and take on different roles

  • Use language skills to engage in social situations

  • Problem solving skills emerge, but still might need assistance in making appropriate decisions

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8 to 10 years:

  • Learning to engage in group activities; dislike playing alone

  • Spend a lot of time talking to peers

  • Begin to develop lasting friendships and handle peer pressure

  • Able to use problem solving, negotiating, and compromising skills with peers

  • Begin to be sensitive to what others think of them

  • Seek approval of adults

  • Develop competitiveness

  • May be quite sensitive and overly dramatic

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11 to 13 years:

  • Personal values begin to develop

  • Learning to make appropriate decisions to resolve conflicts with peers

  • Begin to show empathy

  • May begin to explore more risky behaviors

  • Learning to handle bigger emotions

  • Develop better understanding that actions have consequences

  • Persistence and leadership skills begin to emerge

Self-cares

6 to 7 years:​

  • Keeps room tidy/clean

  • Sorting laundry 

  • Sweeping floors

  • Assist in packing own lunch

  • Able to shower independently

  • Independently toileting during day and night

  • Can open lunch containers - zip lock bags, food packaging, etc.

  • Able to complete morning routine with minimal support

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8 to 10 years:

  • Puts away groceries

  • Loads dishwasher

  • Assists making dinner/meals

  • Prepares own snacks

  • Walks dog/pet

  • Mops floors

  • Able to prepare simple meals

  • Becomes more independent with morning routine

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11 to 13 years:

  • Puts away own laundry

  • Plans and prepares meals (hot and cold)

  • Loads and unloads dishwasher independently

  • Cleans own space and common living spaces 

  • Vacuums, dusts family spaces

  • Begins to look after younger siblings/ babysitting

  • Purchase items with money or a bank card

Please note: Milestones/skill sets are not all encompassing. These are to give you an idea of what skills you may see your child be able to accomplish at each age. All children develop at different rates, so your child may or may not be able to do all skills listed. 

Information gathered from:

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