What to expect at 5 – 8 years

Kids love to communicate in a range of different ways.

They all develop at different rates.

Your child may be faster or slower at talking and listening than others.

Here’s a guide for what you can expect.

By 5 years, kids can usually:

• Easily understand instructions.
• Begin to recognise some letters, sounds and numbers.
• Take turns to talk in conversations.
• Talk in well-formed sentences and be understood by most people.

By 6 years, kids can usually:

• Learn five to ten new words each day.
• Ask questions.
• Talk through steps to solve simple problems.

By 7 years, kids can usually:

• Take turns to talk in more complex conversations.
• Describe personal experiences with more detail.
• Ask lots of “How” and “Why” questions.

By 8 years, kids can usually:

• Talk about past and future.
• Have conversations with adults.
• Tell jokes and riddles.

For more on what to expect or to find talking ideas, visit Let’s Talk. If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your local child health nurse or family doctor.

Kids seem to always be on the go!

They all move in a range of different ways and develop at their own rate.

Your child may be faster or slower than others with their big and small movements.

Here’s a guide for what you can expect.

By 5 years, kids can usually:

• Enjoy learning simple rhythm and movement routines.
• Draw a variety of shapes in their drawings.
• Climb steps with alternating feet.

By 6 years, kids can usually:

• Balance well on either foot.
• Run up and down stairs with alternating feet.
• Climb and balance on play equipment without falling.
• Throw and catch small balls.
• Ride a bicycle (without training wheels).

By 7 years, kids can usually:

• Use a knife and fork most of the time.
• Kick a ball at a target, goals or to a friend.
• Move across monkey bars on their own.

By 8 years, kids can usually:

• Enjoy being active, such as dancing, swimming or playing soccer.
• Participate in team games.
• Show speed, strength and agility when being active.

If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your local child health nurse or family doctor.

Kids interact with the people around them in so many ways.

They all develop at their own rate.

Your child may be faster or slower than others at engaging with people.

Here’s a guide for what you can expect.

By 5 years, kids can usually:

• Join in play with objects or toys with one or two other children.
• Follow directions most of the time.
• Tell jokes, entertain and make people laugh.

By 6 years, kids can usually:

• Be less dependent on parents, as friendship circles expand.
• Join in and organise role play scenarios with friends.
• Follow routines and daily tasks.

By 7 years, kids can usually:

• Help with tasks around the home.
• Play in small groups and make up their own games with rules.
• Play well with friends, but also enjoy time on their own.

By 8 years, kids can usually:

• Join in with team games and activities.
• Play with two or three best friends.

If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your local child health nurse or family doctor.

Kids can experience some big emotions.

They all develop at their own rate.

Your child may be faster or slower at expressing and dealing with emotions than others.

Here’s a guide for what you can expect.

By 5 years, kids can usually:

• Show pride in accomplishments.
• Seek frequent adult approval.
• Establish close relationships with other kids, beginning to have best friends.

By 6 years, kids can usually:

• Start to understand the feelings of others.
• Continue to establish close relationships and friends

By 7 years, kids can usually:

• Cooperate and be affectionate towards adults.
• Recognise when things aren’t ‘fair’.
• Show an awareness of whether they are liked by their peer group.

By 8 years, kids can usually:

• Show complex emotions and interactions, such as embarrassment and excitement.
• Have their own opinion and voice when they think something is right or wrong.

If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your local child health nurse or family doctor.

Kids are always learning.

They all develop at their own rate.

Your child may be faster or slower at learning new things than others.

Here’s a guide for what you can expect.

By 5 years, kids can usually:

• Understand opposites and words like “up”, “under” and “next to”.
• Talk to themself during play and to help guide what they do.
• Have a longer attention span.
• Follow simple rules and enjoy helping.

By 6 years, kids can usually:

• Recognise some words by sight and attempt to sound out words.
• Increase their attention span, focusing on tasks for longer periods of time.
• Persist with puzzles, counting and sorting activities.

By 7 years, kids can usually:

• Understand space and time in a practical way.
• Understand cause and effect – such as ice cubes will melt if they get too warm.
• Plan ahead – such as “I’m saving this biscuit for later”.

By 8 years, kids can usually:

• Concentrate and independently complete tasks.
• Collect objects, as well as bargain and trade with their friends.
• Show interest in reading independently.

If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your local child health nurse or family doctor.