How Is Child Development Related to Child Behavior?
Your kid pushes another one over, cries when asked to share or cheats on her test. You may fear your adorable child has turned into a monster, but before you panic, take a moment to consider her age and the current stage of her development. Maybe her behavior is perfectly normal for her developmental age. Throughout childhood, her brain matures and she learns new ways to play, talk and socialize and her behavior changes often as she progresses.
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Communication
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As he matures, your child learns to communicate with words rather than by crying. It takes him up to 12 years to complete the complex process, and his behavior often reflects his level of sophistication with language. He may have had tantrums during the terrible 2s, when he knew few words to use to explain his frustration, but similar explosions when he reaches age 6 need investigation. If his language skills develop slowly, and he fails to understand instructions in school, he may appear to be disobedient or lazy. If he finds it hard to make speech sounds or link them together correctly, he could find himself ignored or the subject of ridicule and in turn, may develop aggressive behavior.
Social Skills
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Your child learns to recognize other people̵7;s needs by the time she reaches the age of 5 and she wants to please her friends. At the same time, she becomes more adventurous and independent. She may wander off to explore or let friends persuade her to disobey your instructions to come home on time. Her growing cognitive abilities mean she can understand rules and the consequences of breaking them. She learns that others have feelings and can be hurt, and develops more self-control, suggests the NYU Child Study Center. During her years in school, she learns to recognize fairness and justice, so you can explain why you expect cooperative behavior.
Lies
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Many kids learn to tell lies by the age of 3. The better your child̵7;s cognitive abilities, the earlier he learns to lie, suggests Dr. Kang Lee on The Telegraph website. By 12, almost all kids lie. At around 7, your child may cheat in school, not yet understanding the subtle difference between working together and working on her own. An older kid may cheat when she finds that her ability to study fails to meet parental expectations.
Goals
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Your child often strives to reach new goals, just out of his reach. This drives his learning forward, but can lead to frustration and behavior you dislike. He may lose his temper when struggling to master his new bike, or become withdrawn if he finds school tasks beyond his capabilities. He may behave one way during play, and another in class, notes Sue Shellenbarger, a family columnist, in "The Wall Street Journal" article "How Could a Sweet Third-Grader Just Cheat on That School Exam?" This behavior will occur until he becomes able to transfer learning from one arena to another, Shellenbarger explains.
Developmental Delays
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Delayed development in any area of your child̵7;s skills likely affects his behavior. Significant developmental problems may include Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Disability or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; and one child in 6 is likely to have a developmental disability. Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned that your child's development seems slow when compared to other kids her age.
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