What can my child do at this age?
As your child continues to grow, you will notice new and exciting abilities that your child develops. While children may progress at different rates and have diverse interests, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group:
6- to 7-year-olds:
Enjoys many activities and stays busy
Likes to paint and draw
May lose first tooth
Vision is as sharp as an adult's vision
Practices skills in order to become better
Jumps rope
Rides a bike
8- to 9-year-olds:
More graceful with movements and abilities
Jumps, skips, and chases
Dresses and grooms self completely
Can use tools (i.e., hammer, screwdriver)
10- to 12-year-olds:
Remainder of adult teeth will develop
Likes to sew and paint
What does my child understand?
As children enter into school-age, their abilities and understanding of concepts and the world around them continue to grow. While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group:
6- to 7-year-olds:
Understands concept of numbers
Knows daytime and nighttime
Knows right and left hands
Can copy complex shapes, such as a diamond
Can tell time
Can understand commands with three separate instructions
Can explain objects and their use
Can repeat three numbers backwards
Can read age-appropriate books and/or materials
8- to 9-year-olds:
Can count backwards
Knows the date
Reads more and enjoys reading
Understands fractions
Understands concept of space
Draws and paints
Can name months and days of week, in order
Enjoys collecting objects
10- to 12-year-olds:
Writes stories
Likes to write letters
Reads well
Enjoys using the telephone
How does my child interact with others?
A very important part of growing up is the ability to interact and socialize with others. During the school-age years, parents will see a transition in their child as he or she moves from playing alone to having multiple friends and social groups. While friendships become more important, the child is still fond of his or her parents and likes being part of a family. While every child is unique and will develop different personalities, the following are some of the common behavioral traits that may be present in your child:
6- to 7-year-olds:
Cooperates and shares
Jealous of others and siblings
Likes to copy adults
Likes to play alone, but friends are becoming important
Plays with friends of the same gender
May have occasional temper tantrums
Modest about body
Likes to play board games
8- to 9-year-olds:
Likes competition and games
Starts to mix friends and play with children of the opposite gender
Modest about body
Enjoys clubs and groups, such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts
Becoming interested in boy-girl relationships, but does not admit it
10- to 12-year-olds:
Friends are very important; may have a best friend
Increased interest in the opposite gender
Likes and respects parents
Enjoys talking to others
How to help increase your school-aged child's social ability
Consider the following as ways to foster your school-aged child's social abilities:
Set and provide appropriate limits, guidelines, and expectations and consistently enforce using appropriate consequences.
Model appropriate behavior.
Offer compliments for your child being cooperative and for any personal achievements.
Help your child choose activities that are appropriate for your child's abilities.
Encourage your child to talk with you and be open with his or her feelings.
Encourage your child to read and read with your child.
Encourage your child to get involved with hobbies and other activities.
Encourage physical activity.
Encourage self-discipline; expect your child to follow rules that are set.
Teach your child to respect and listen to authority figures.
Encourage your child to talk about peer pressure and help set guidelines to deal with peer pressure.
Spend uninterrupted time together?giving full attention to your child.
Limit television, video, and computer time.