Speech and Language of the 6-Year Old

Speech and Language of the 6-Year-Old

At 6 years of age, your child…

Has correct articulation of most sounds in conversation to an unfamiliar listener.

May still have difficulties with clusters such as /spl/, or /tr/.

Uses adult-like grammar and understands the meanings of most sentences.

Names days of the week and months of the year in order and counts to 30.

Predicts the next sequence of events and tells a 4- to 5-part story.

Tells month and day of birthday, name, age, address and distinguishes left and right.

Knows most opposites and the meaning of through, away, toward, and from.

Knows time based concepts including: today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Asks many questions including: “why,” “what,” and “how” questions.

Is beginning to read simple words like cat, the, and ball.

Is starting to recognize that individual letters in words represent different sounds

that form words when put together (for example, c-a-t for “cat”).

You can stimulate your 6-year-old child’s speech and language if you…

Spend quiet time each day when only the two of you carry on a conversation.

Have your child read simple, repetitive, and familiar books to you (i.e., Brown

Bear Brown Bear) and read new and more advanced books to him or her.

Help your child write his or her own story-picture book.

Play games with your child that involve reasoning and conversation (i.e., 20 questions and Headbands).

Allow your child to cook and bake using a child’s cookbook with simple step-by-step instructions and pictures.

Let your child watch special children’s videos or television shows and have him or her retell the story.

Have your child contribute to family discussions that involve decision making and personal opinions (i.e., peak and pit/high and low of the day).

Use more advanced words in your own vocabulary and define them to your child.

Tell a short story to your child and let him or her finish the ending.

Have your child “write” new words and sentences each day with chalk, or a marker on a dry-erase board.

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