How Do Children Grow & Develop? All children grow and progress through developmental stages. But development doesn't stop with childhood. It comes throughout our lives. All of us go through stages, some faster than others. It's important to remember that no two children are alike. Each child is a growing, changing, unique person. Some are better at doing certain activities than others. Why is it important to know about developmental stages of growth? When we expect something of a child that they are not able to complete, the child begins to feel badly about themselves. Children are not small adults. They do not think, feel or act as grown-ups do. What should my school-aged child be doing? By the time a child reaches school age, the back and forth process of separating from and reuniting with parents should be, for the most part, settled. School-aged children have many tasks that include:
During this stage of growth, most boys play with boys, and girls play with girls. Children of this age are eager to please and thrive on being given responsibilities and to show us how they can accomplish a task. The early school years are the time for setting standards for work attitudes that will be of use throughout the child's life. We encourage you to offer children experiences that fit their maturity level. If a child is pushed ahead too soon, and if too much is expected of him before he is ready, his failure may discourage him. Providing experiences that tap into skills that the child feels confident in, as well as some new skills that will challenge him, will provide the balance of activities that will facilitate healthy growth. |