Developmental Milestone

• Movement: At this stage, kids will love moving and enjoy physical activity. They will develop a love for sports or just running around. They’ll begin to appreciate bike riding, can do swim lessons or gymnastics. Kickball is a favorite of most children at this age. All this movement makes them more likely to be out of sight, so make sure to show them safety measures. 

• Brain Development: There’s an increase in how clearly they speak and express themselves better, as seen through a more complex vocabulary and improved problem-solving skills. They can explain their feelings more, and you will see improvement in their writing skills. At this age, children may show a preference for a different learning style. Some children would like hands-on activities where they can use their hands and work on objects. Other kids, you will find, will want to work alone in a quiet place.  They may also enjoy pretend-play and creativity. This age is great for doing art projects. 

Social-Emotional Milestone 

By this time, children will begin to have more empathy, meaning they will have a better understanding of how others feel.  They also can develop relationships outside of the family, for example, their teachers. Although being in school will be a large part of the kid’s life, parents still play an essential role in their daily activities. They’ll have better control over their feelings. Children at this age can handle changes to their schedules better than younger kids. Even with this, they will still enjoy the comfort of routines. But they are still learning to practice some self-control. They will also overcome some of their childhood fears but also realize, as they grow older, some new fears may arise. Some children may dread having to go to a new school. Others may worry about what others think of them.  Overall, they want to be well-liked and accepted by their friends. They also may be their own worst critic. Sometimes, setbacks such as failures or losing a game can be devastating to their self-esteem. As a parent, offer your kids quality praise and encouragement often. 

Life Skills: Cliques,Self Esteem, and Confidence

As your child’s social circle gets bigger, it is only natural that they will be exposed to different types of individuals and relationships. These relationships can help provide children with a place where they can belong and be accepted. Friendships can represent a small family outside of their own. Sometimes though, these relationships aren’t healthy. Your child may have to deal with cliques around the school. What are cliques?  Cliques are a group of individuals who won’t let others in their group and will often leave others out. They often use their power and popularity to manipulate and make others feel alone. Usually, these are often portrayed in a high school or middle school setting. Some experts say though that cliques can form as early as in first or second grade. As a parent, we can take steps to make sure we notice if our kids are being excluded at school. We can take practical steps such as helping children make relationships outside of a school setting and with other children that share their hobbies or interests. If you suspect your child to be a part of a clique, it is necessary to help them learn how to let others in and to empathize with others. Talk to them about how it would feel to be left out.  Overall, take steps on teaching your kids how to be a good friend and what to expect from healthy friendships. Here are more articles on what you can do to help your child deal with cliques. [Article]

Action Items

• Go outside and play as a family. Play sports, attend community events and have fun with your kids. Being physically active will help physical skills improve. They might also develop these skills faster with practice and repetition. 

• Kids this age are highly critical of themselves. Losing a game can break their self-esteem. Help your child learn to focus on lessons they can learn from activities rather than failures and what didn’t go right. 

• When you discipline your child, make it about making bad choices rather than saying that they are bad kids. 

• Self Confidence needs to be boosted to make sure they can make the right choices away from peer pressure. Encourage setting goals and praising them for their effort and patience rather than completing the goal. 

• Practice their learning skills, such as math lessons, and apply them to real-life situations. Do this whenever opportunities arise, maybe that is in the kitchen or when you’re on the road or taking a grocery trip.