What can your six year old do?

[Catsarebabes]

I'm trying to gage what is normal for a six year old to be able to do themselves.

DS was six in July and is currently in Year 2 at school.

He can't wipe his own bum. He won't poo at school so that me or DH can help him wipe at home.

We do still have to remind him to go to the toilet (for wees and poos). Normally we noticing him running around in a circle and we say, 'do you need the toilet?'. He'll nod and then we'll tell him to go.

But he has been using the toilet for years.

He can get himself dressed but is very slow and easily distracted so needs lots of reminding. He struggles with his shoes and can't do buttons or zips.

He doesn't get his school stuff ready. He'd forget things. If I don't carry his bag for example, he'll forget to bring it. Same for coat, PE kit, books, etc.

He doesn't do anything around the house (I see posters mentioning this as things their six year olds do). He doesn't make his bed and can't tidy up by himself, put his washing away, etc.

He can just about make a sandwich but his spreading abilities are very poor!

What was your six year old able to do at this age?

This is not normal for a "normal" 6 year old. He should be able to go to the toilet without prompts and wipe his own bum with the occasional "missed a bit". He should be able to do zips and buttons. And focus enough to get himself dressed. He should be able to carry his own bag without leaving it. He should be able to get his bag, packed lunch and water bottle and leave the house. My 4 year old has been doing this and more. Parents just aren't giving their children the skills they need. ( I'm not talking about children with a SEN need). But the needing prompts to go to the toilet is a red flag for me that there may be a SEN need.

So expected some of these responses. 🙄
Actually, my DS is 6 and can cook a beef wellington from scratch, rewire a plug and has just finished the last chapter of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen.

Honestly OP some of these responses are so expected from MNs. Your DS sounds pretty much typical to me and also it really depends on what you expect your child to do and how busy you are as a parent that dictates what they have to crack on with themselves!

Don’t worry about it and absolutely don’t compare especially with random strangers who may/may not be telling the truth anyway.

1. The OPs post is well within the realms of normal 6 year old.
2. The OPs child does indeed have SN.