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Who Is Your First Grader?
This year will be an exciting and interesting time for you and your first grader. Six-year-olds have a growing sense of independence yet may also be somewhat anxious as they branch out to new horizons. As a child becomes six, changes occur rapidly in growth and development. First graders can be very enthusiastic about their endeavors, and this enthusiasm can be contagious. They love new places, new ideas, and new bits of information. You and your first grader can have a wonderful time learning and exploring life together.
Physical Characteristics
- Increased motor activity, may appear restless even when seated
- Enjoys boisterous play, coordination is not yet fully developed
- Enjoys manipulating things, but may be awkward in small motor activities
- May be easily distracted by things in the environment, attention
may wander
- Learns best through touch, exploration, and movement--activities that
engage the whole child
- Displays increased ability to sequence things in time and enjoys
hearing about the past
- Enjoys learning about people and places far away
- Reading skills are emerging
- May have difficulty waiting for a turn, likes to be first
- Often views the teacher as always right
- Often plays best with friends in pairs rather than groups of three
- Friendships may be stormy and competitive
- Show and tell is often a favorite activity
- Prayer comes naturally, enjoys ceremony and ritual
- Interprets Bible and other stories literally and cannot derive symbolic
meaning
- Natural sense of wonder fosters a sensitivity to the sacred
- Comfortable with formal and spontaneous prayer
- Awareness of Church is limited to his or her experience at home and
in the parish
- Imagines God as a human person
Growing as Catholic Christians
First graders tend to be somewhat self-absorbed at this stage of their
development. They can be somewhat assertive and often feel they "know"
everything. They exhibit a sense of spontaneity and confidence. It is
a wonderful time to remind them of how special they are and how each person
is a precious child of God. As you use stories from the Bible, remember
that children will think about God and the events of the story in concrete
ways. Role-playing, puppetry and art activities can help the children
build meaning and remember the story.
We asked a group of first graders what they would like a parent to know
about them. Here's what they said:
I Wish...
