How to Meet the Intellectual Needs of Children

Playing With 5- to 7-Year-Olds

• A child between the ages of 5 and 7 tends to prefer tasks that he knows he can accomplish, according to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. Meet your child's intellectual needs by encouraging him to try new tasks that he can master -- with your help -- such as cooking dinner with you, learning to swim or building a backyard fort with blankets and chairs. As he learns the basics of reading, writing and math, incorporate what he's learned, as you play. For example, play a grocery store game where your child is the clerk. He must count the number of items you purchase, add their costs and spell the name of the product for you.

Quizzing Kids Who Are 7 to 8 Years Old

• Children in the first and second grade like to learn. As your child becomes more reflective, she'll start thinking more logically, according to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. Support your child's intellectual needs with thought-provoking questions and activities. As an example, have her fill two different-sized clear cups with 1 cup of water. Ask her which cup has more water. When your child says that the glass with the taller fill-line has more water, explain to her that containers can hold the same amount of liquid and look different because their shapes and sizes are different. Another way to meet your child's intellectual needs is to support new interests and skills by encouraging the adoption of new hobbies and providing age-appropriate challenges. For instance, if she is into flowers and butterflies, plant, decorate and maintain a butterfly garden together. Have your child keep a record of the different flowers planted and the butterflies that visit the most.

Helping an 8- to 9-Year-Old Acknowledge His Potential

• Kids in the third and fourth grades attempt to gain a better understanding of cause and effect by asking, ̶0;Why?̶1; While needing to know a reason for everything may get on your nerves at times, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services website states that you can help meet your child's intellectual needs by addressing why-related questions with patience. Kids at this age also tend to generalize personal failures with statements that begin with, ̶0;I never...,̶1; as in, "I never do anything right." Help your child gain self-confidence and support his intellectual development with challenging, meaningful tasks that you know he can accomplish, like having him read an interesting book that has harder words than he's used to. Give him goals that take time and persistence to achieve, such as collecting 25 cans of food from family, friends and neighbors for the local food shelter.

Promoting a 9- to 11-Year-Old's Reasoning Skills and Interests

• During middle childhood, a young person gains the ability to think more abstractly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states that this is a good age to help your child develop a sense of right and wrong. Meet your young one's intellectual needs by talking to her about risk-taking and consequences to promote healthy problem-solving skills. Such a talk can be about taking positive risks, like trying new foods or joining a club to broaden her cultural awareness. Also talk about dangerous risks, like using drugs, and the consequences that may follow, such as having an unhealthy body, not doing well in school and losing the trust of others. The Washington Department of Social and Health Services states that another way to support your child's intellectual development is to encourage her curiosity and interests. Participate in your child's hobbies and have her teach you what she's learned. Allow your child to pursue her interests. For example, if she likes acting, sign her up for a role in a community play and help her practice her lines.