Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

To what extent is copying normal - 6 year old

1 reply

Coldcoffeekindamorning · 28/11/2025 17:25

DD tells me frequently that she copies her friends and I'm just wondering if it's in the range of normal. She tells me often that her best friend gets annoyed at her for copying her drawings and when I ask why she just says either that's how she learns or that she can't think of what to draw herself. She doesn't have this problem at home, I would say she is at her most creative when left to her own devices. She has also started copying another friends facial expressions (silly faces mostly and that kind of thing) but I'm starting to wonder if it's something I need to keep an eye on or if all 6 year olds are like this? When we were on holiday during the summer (DD was 5 years at this point) she found it overwhelming to choose an ice cream flavour and then ended up copying her 3 year old brothers choice most of the time. If there is a big range of choice she struggles to choose and gets upset. If someone else has or wants something she will automatically want that even if it's not her favourite. Any advice?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
parietal · 28/11/2025 17:53

copying is very common in kids of all ages

this sounds more like a challenge with making a decision / social anxiety over making the wrong decision.

maybe help her make choices about things like what ice cream to pick etc. Make sure the choices are very inconsequential and that she can change her mind the next time etc.

there is a great kids book called 'You Choose' where you look at the pictures and make choices - often silly ones.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page