Stages of Child Development From Ages 6-10

Age 6

• Your child will start kindergarten by age 6. His social development will become stronger as he begins to hold friendship in high regard, although his attention span may still be short. He̵7;ll enjoy competing with friends and interacting with many children. However, he may not get too attached to one person and he̵7;ll switch friends often. He will reach an important stage in his cognitive development as he learns to read and write. His writing skills at this age will consist of copying words onto paper. He will learn to sight-read basic words and read simple books.

Age 7

• At age 7 your child will be building on the foundations of the writing and reading skills she acquired when she was 6. She will begin to write stories and read longer books, and understand concepts such as beginning and end. She̵7;ll also be able to memorize simple information, such as her address. At this age she will be able to take care of simple tasks -- for example, pouring juice or cereal. She will still regard you as an important role model, though she will be able to separate from you easily. You will also find that she starts to develop strong likes and dislikes.

Age 8

• During your child̵7;s eighth year, he will be more self-sufficient as he understands the responsibility of cleaning his bedroom and packing his school bag. His attention span should be longer, and this helps him develop his writing and reading skills. By this age your child will understand the meaning of right and wrong, and therefore be more vocal when you̵7;re doing something wrong. Also, he still needs to be encouraged so he responds well to having his successes recognized.

Age 9

• From age 9 your child will be interested in activities that require fine muscle skills. These can include sports, music and crafts. Her physical development will allow her to master these skills, and you may notice she has a particular talent in one area. Her social growth will allow her to work well in a group not only in social activities but also with school projects. However, at home you will find she retreats from some family social activities and asks for privacy.

Age 10

• As your child celebrates his 10th birthday, the hormones that will lead to sexual maturity will start to work. For a girl that may mean the beginning of her menstrual period. Physically, you will notice the child's body start to change, especially height and voice. This can affect self-confidence -- if he feels too different from his friends, he could become self-conscious. It can also mean his mood will change quickly.