Rocko & Likeminded Children
At the age of six, children begin to understand the differences between themselves and others. In this
regard, they begin to compare and contrast lessons and experiences in their home with those of their
peers at school and community. They grasp the feedback provided by teachers and recognize the grades
and value attached to performing school assignments.
Psychology Today (12-19-2009) provided the following comments about six-year-olds:
• This is time of remarkable change in social and cognitive skills. The six-year-old seeks more
independence, both intellectually and emotionally.
• The six-year-old craves affection from parents and teachers.
• As with every age, structure is important to facilitate adaption.
• Watching your child perform is critical to their self-esteem, as they need a meaningful audience for
their newly acquired skills.
Further, John Bowlby’s theory on attachment suggests that children come into the world programmed to
form attachments with others. Bowlby believed that attachment behaviors are instinctive and will be
activated by conditions that appear to threaten the achievement of proximity, such as separation,
insecurity, and fear.
While the mother-child bond is generally thought to be the guiding force in a child’s development,
fathers also play vital roles in a child’s confidence and emotional well-being. At six, a child’s self-image,
and in particular boys, may be shaped by fathers and male figures in his environment. As such, the
feedback received from fathers will be internalized and used as sounding board for direction.