WHAT TO WATCH FOR
While it's not a good idea to spend all your time as a parent comparing your child's abilities to those of other 6-year-olds, it is helpful to keep an eye out for any potential problems your child might be having and discuss them with your child's doctor. Consider talking to the pediatrician if your child:
Doesn't play well with others, is unusually shy, or excessively aggressive
Is not sleeping well, or has frequent nightmares
Is having trouble reading or writing
Is frequently fearful, clingy, or sad
Has any issues when it comes to using the toilet
It is also important to pay attention to whether or not your child seems to be behind on her language skills. A 6-year-old's speech should definitely be intelligible to those outside the family. Sentence structure also should be good, and tenses usually correct. That said, experts estimate that 10 to 20 percent of all children at this stage will have a speech or language problem, and, if left untreated, speech and language problems can lead to school failures. The good news is that many of these problems can be corrected with treatment lasting less than two years. Be sure to bring it up with your child's doctor if you find yourself describing your child in these terms:
"No one can understand him but me."
"She uses only a few words."
"He didn't begin talking until he was 3."
"She speaks in phrases — she doesn't use sentences."