Middle Childhood Milestones

Fine motor development: Manipulation skills

Complex rotation; Age 6-7

Rotation of an object 360 degrees; turning a pencil over to erase

Fine motor development: Manipulation skills

In-hand manipulation with stabilization; Age 6-7

Several objects held in hand and manipulation of one object occurs while simultaneously stabilizing the others; picking up pennies with thumb and forefinger while storing them in the ulnar side of the same hand

Fine motor development: Scissor skills

Age: 6-7 years old

Cuts complex figure shapes 

Cognitive development: Intuitive thought phase

Age: 4-7 

Child imitates copies, repeats what is seen or heard and bases conclusions on what child believes to be true rather than on logic 

Child progresses from dependence on perception to logical thought for solving problems; child enjoys symbolic and verbal play 

Cognitive development: Concrete operations

Age: 7-11

Reversibility: expansion of conservation, leads to increased spatial awareness

Rules: as rules are better understood, they are also applied

Empirical-inductive thinking: child solves problems with the info that is obvious and present

Child uses logical thinking on observed objects, enjoying games with rules, which helps the child adjust to social demand

Cognitive development: Formal operations

Age: 11-teen years

Hypothetical-deductive thinking, ability to analyze and plan 

Child uses logic to hypothesize many ways to solve problems and can draw from past and present experiences to imagine what can have an effect on future situations 

Play development: Creative play

Age: 4-7 years

Child engages in sensory, motor, cognitive, and social play experiences in which the child refines relevant skills

Child explores combinations of actions on multiple objects

Child begins to master skills that promote performance of school- and work-related activities

Child participates in cooperative peer groups

Play development: Games

Age: 7-12 years

Child participates in play with rules, competition, social interaction, and opportunities for development of skills

Child begins to participate in cooperative peer groups with a growing interest in competition

Friends become important for validation of play items and performance, while parents assist and validate in the absence of peers 

ADL/IADL development: Dressing

Age: 6 years

Closes back zipper

Ties bows

Buttons back buttons

Snaps back snap

ADL/IADL: Household management development

6 years

Does simple errands

Does household chores without redoing

Cleans sink

Washes dishes with help

Crosses street safely

ADL/IADL: Household management development

Age: 7-9 years

Begins to cook simple meals

Puts clean clothes away

Hangs up clothes

Manages small amounts of money

Uses telephone correctly

ADL/IAD: Household management development

10-12 years

Cooks simple meals with supervision

Does simple repairs with appropriate tools

Begins doing laundry

Sets table 

Washes dishes

Cares for pet with reminders

ADL/IADL: Household management development

13-14 years

Does laundry

Cooks meals