Child Development at a Glance ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Areas of Physical Social & Emotional Language Cognitive ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Development ● Need lots of physical activity and ● Likes to help, cooperate, follow rules. ● Literal use and ● Likes to copy and repeat activities. Younger ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ free play. ● Wants adult approval. understanding of ● Often sees only one way to do things. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5 years ● May still be awkward with writing ● Needs routines, words. ● Bound cognitively by their senses - what ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and small movement. ● Responds well to clear and simple ● Likely doesn’t talk very they can see, hear, touch, feel, taste. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Better control of running and rules, expectations and consequences. much about school ● Not ready to understand abstract ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ jumping. ● Can have difficulty seeing things from happenings. concepts. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Hold pencil with 3 fingered, another’s perspective. ● Think out loud. ● Learn best through active play and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ pincer-like grasp. hands on activities. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May fall out of chair sideways. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Vary pencil grasp. ● Oppositional; testing limits. ● Uses more words than ● Makes many mistakes and recognizes Older ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Tires easily and tends to be ● Behave wonderfully at home and necessary to convey some of them. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5 years physically restless. poorly at school or vice versa. an idea. ● Learn well from direct experience. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Often stands while working ● Temper tantrums - can sometimes feel ● May read out loud ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Print less neatly. like they are reverting back to toddler even when asked to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Reverse letters and numbers with behaviors. read silently. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ increasing frequency. ​ ​ ● Good visual tracking from left to ● Wants to be first and win. ● Enjoys explaining ● Learn through games and discovery. 6 years ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ right. ● Competitive; enthusiastic things and asking ● Poems, riddles and songs are more ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Often work standing. ● Can be “poor sports” or dishonest. May questions. effective teaching tools than workbooks. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Noisy & sloppy. invent rules to win. ● Likes jokes and ● Produce large quantity of work, but not ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Speed is a hallmark of six. In a ● Desires to do well. guessing games. concerned with quality. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ hurry! ● Thrives on encouragement. ● Uses enthusiastic ● Enjoys the process more than the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Can produce high quality work ● Can be bossy, teasing, critical of language. product. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ when encouraged to work slowly others. ● Complains frequently. ● Engages in more elaborate cooperative ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ or with 1 or 2 simple tasks. ● Easily upset when hurt. and dramatic play than in previous ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Learning to distinguish left from ● Cares a lot about friendships. years. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ right. ● Ready to take on individual and group ● Beginning to understand past and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Tires easily. responsibility. present and how and why things happen. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May chew on objects due to ● Like to “work”. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ teething. ● Sometimes tense. ● Sometimes moody, touchy, depressed, ● Listens well and speaks ● Enjoys repeating tasks and reviewing 7 years ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May like confined spaces. sulky or shy. precisely. learning. Able to reflect on own learning. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May change friendships quickly and ● Enjoys 1 on 1 ● Like to work by themselves slowly and ● May be sensitive to many hurts ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ feel “nobody likes me”. conversations and finish what they started. (real or imagined). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Needs security and structure. Adults sending notes. ● Bothered by mistakes and tries hard to ● ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Improved physical abilities (i.e. provide help and assurance. ● Vocabulary increases make their work perfect. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ playing sports). ● Doesn’t like making mistakes or significantly. ● Likes to be read to. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ taking risks. ● Enjoys taking things apart and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Has strong likes and dislikes. discovering how they work. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Adapted from the 3rd edition of Yardsticks by C. Wood, 2007, Turner Falls, MA: Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc. Copyright 2007 by Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Child Development at a Glance ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Areas of Physical Social & Emotional Language Cognitive ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Development ● Full of energy; do things in a hurry. ● Enjoy socializing and sharing humor. ● Likes to talk and ● Has limited attention span, but can 8 years ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Need time to play outdoors and ● Enjoys group and cooperative work explain ideas. become engrossed with activity at hand. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ typically with peers of the same ● Tends to exaggerate. ● Short brain breaks can help physical energy release. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ gender. ● Listens well most of the concentration. ● Should now be consistently using ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Adjusts well to change. time. ● Industrious, impatient, and full of ideas. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ an adult pencil grasp. ● Bounce back quickly from mistakes or ● Has so many ideas they ● Works quickly and may take on more ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ disappointments. may not always than they can handle. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Has a larger friendship group than in remember what they’ve ● Enjoys responsibility, but does not ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ earlier years. heard. always successfully complete tasks. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May give up, but soon wants to try ● Care about both the process and product ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ again. of their work. ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Increasing sense of moral ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ responsibility beyond themselves. ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Better coordinated so may show ● More individualistic. ● Loves descriptive ● Industrious and intellectually curious. 9 years ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ more interest to detail. ● May feel worried or anxious often. language and word ● Less imaginative than 8 years old. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Able to copy from the board, ● Impatient plays. ● Able to see the “bigger world”, including ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ recopy assignments to produce ● Complain about fairness issues. ● Sometimes reverts to issues of fairness and justice. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ high quality final drafts. ● Critical of self and others (including baby talk. ● Still has difficulty understanding ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Likes to push physical limits; tire adults). ● Likes to negotiate. abstractions (i.e. long periods of time or ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ easily. ● Can be sullen, moody, aloof, and vast areas of space). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Complain about aches, pains, and negative. ● Searching for explanations of facts, how ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ hurt feelings. ● Often says, “I hate it,” or “It’s boring.” things work, and why things happen as ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May twist hair, bite nails, or purse ● Cliques may start forming. they do. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ lips to relieve tension. ● Group work may turn into arguing ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ about facts, rules, and directions. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Generally worried and anxious. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Sarcastic humor from adults is often ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ misunderstood and can be hurtful. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Large muscles are developing ● Generally content & satisfied with ● Listens well. ● Increasingly able to think abstractly. 10 years ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ quickly. their own abilities. ● May read voraciously. ● Enjoys rules and logic. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● May write more sloppily than at 9. ● Quick to anger and quick to forgive. ● Expressive and ● Good at problem-solving. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Snacks and rest periods benefit ● Enjoys group activities (i.e. clubs, talkative; likes to ● Enjoys collecting, classifying and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ their rapidly growing body. team sports, etc.). explain things. organizing. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Usually