Being Six

In case you were wondering if I was ever NOT into writing, those are just a couple of the books I wrote and illustrated in elementary school. They begin when I was six.

Shall I share one or would that be lame and boring?

I've been trying to get in the head of six-year-olds. When I was six monsters lived under the bed, markers and crayons were better than gold, and when I dressed myself, I paired purple fitted sweatpants with rainbow-striped sweaters. I was taking dance classes. I probably liked reading and playing outside. Generic, right?

I want to make a list of thing to do with the two six-year-old twin girls I'll be taking care of in Luxembourg. So far I'm thinking I could:

teach them ballet

help them make journals or diaries

bake cookies or invent recipes

build forts/huts/tents, etc.

make beaded jewelry

soccer/frisbee/basketball?

write plays

arts and crafts (involving popcicle sticks, pipecleaners, toilet paper rolls)

???

About.com has this to say:

Routines
At mealtimes, the six-year old has a very good appetite, though she tends to ask for more than she actually eats. Lunch is the favorite meal and she often wants a large bedtime snack.
Very few six-year olds will nap, but they will go to bed early. Six still needs at least ten hours of sleep each night. They enjoy the quiet time before sleep to hear a bedtime story and talk about their day.
Bathing is a bother to most six-year olds, especially boys. They have to be reminded to bathe thoroughly, to brush their teeth, and to wash hands. Six is not neat with his clothes and usually leaves clothes and shoes scattered everywhere. It might be a good idea to invest in some baskets that he can use to begin to learn the habit of keeping clothes off the floor. (adapted from Gesell, Ilg, & Ames)

Building Character
Six-year olds have to be right. The early self is fragile when it begins to recognize the perspective of others. Six doesn't accept criticism or blame with composure. Instead, he argues or even lies to avoid blame. He also hates losing and will blatantly cheat, or change the rules, to win in a competition.
This difficult period can be a learning opportunity when parents approach these behaviors with gentle firmness. Don't push competition on your six-year old. Instead, provide opportunities for non-competitive games and activities this year. Be matter-of-fact about lying and cheating. Don't let them slide; add a consequence for lying and explain that cheating spoils the game.
Six-year olds need encouragement and praise. They need to know that it's okay to make mistakes and how to be a gracious loser. Too much pressure for perfect grades and model behavior increases six's tension and is not appropriate at this stage of development. Focus on being attentive and accepting to help him feel good about being who he is at age six.

Discipline
Six-year olds go through a period of noncompliance and opposition to parents' instructions. They may act like they don't hear you or dawdle before complying. If you don't follow through, they will take advantage of your inattention and ignore your request. This period passes rather quickly and is an expression of the developing self. Don't panic. Use effective strategies for giving instructions, i.e. call them to come to you, make direct eye contact, give the instruction and pay attention to ensure that she complies.
You may notice signs of tension in your six-year old. Twirling hair, foot tapping, scratching or picking sores may be common, along with irritability and crying easily. Help your six-year old cope with tension through talk time to identify feelings and talk about fears. Physical activity helps tension in a positive way; cupcakes don't.
Finally, don't offer your six-year old choices that he can't handle. He's more comfortable with clear rules and prescribed routines. Keep choices very simple; for example, let him choose between the red shirt and the blue shirt. Don't make him responsible for choosing his entire outfit for school in the morning.