Characteristics of a six-year-old: 
• Is in an age of transition; is less stable, less robust, less decisive and often less cooperative than at age five.
• Is normally explosive and can be moody.
• Responds to affection, warmth, friendliness and a sense of humor.
• Is trying to leave babyhood and to identify with older children and adults.
• Is easily discouraged and wilts under criticism; needs praise and encouragement.
• Has difficulty sitting still; jumps up, fidgets, wiggles and generally needs lots of physical activity.
• Has a short attention span.
• Enjoys learning new physical skills.
• Has difficulty tolerating losing.
• Needs a minimum of adult supervision.
• Needs some aggressive and rough-and-tumble play as an experiment in independence.
• Prefers play in small groups.
• Delights in simple, spontaneous dramatic play.
• Is eager to learn.
• Wants to know why.
• Needs adult encouragement and response in order to develop positive attitudes toward learning.
• Learns by concrete situations or direct participation: needs to be actively involved in learning rather than just sitting and listening.
• Is interested in what is happening now, since he has only a vague concept of the distant past and not much of the future.
• Tends to dawdle and become irritated or upset if hurried.
• Likes responsibilities that he can handle.

Characteristics of a seven-year-old: 
• Is in a responsive age.
• Reaches out for new experiences trying to relate himself to his enlarged world.
• Is developing language rapidly, likes to talk and uses language to tell stories and to express his/her feelings.
• Is often dreamy or absorbed.
• Likes to be given responsibility.
• Learns better in an active situation.
• Is interested in books and the information they offer.
• Likes television and may need limits placed on what he is allowed to see.
• Often seems restless.
• Likes to win.
• Is learning to stand up for his/her own rights.
• Is increasingly sensitive to what other children and adults think of him/her and whether they like and approve of him/her.
• Has difficulty accepting criticism from adults.
• Reacts poorly to being teased or ridiculed.
• Has a strong drive toward independence and wants to assume the standards of children slightly older, but does not trust himself.
• Needs adult support and encouragement to be independent and spontaneous.
• Lives primarily in the immediate present, but is beginning to have more understanding of time.
• Still dawdles.
• Understands the purpose of money.
• Is beginning to develop an ethical sense; takes some responsibility for his own actions, is concerned with right and wrong, and does not completely understand truthfulness and honesty.
(Compiled by Katherine Abt, Baltimore City Dept. of Social Services, Division of day Care Training Unit)