Emotional and Social Development in School Age Children

Through the school-age years, your child continues to grow emotionally and socially. When they enter the school-age years, they begin to display signs of budding independence.

This period of growth is marked by active pursuit and an authentic appreciation of new relationships. Even now, parents remain the primary caregivers and the most important persons in the child’s life, but relationships with peers grow in importance.

The appearance of a ‘best friend’ is regarded as a universal feature of school-age years. Other important and often defining features of this phase of development are the capacity of a child to control urges and conform to a suitable standard of behaviour, without direct supervision. This is collectively known as self-regulation. Both social and emotional milestones are achieved with the help of Beirut schools. 

Milestones

5 to 6-year-olds

• Willing to take turns, share and play cooperatively

• Understand own feelings

• Show jealousy towards siblings

• Enjoy both playing alone and with others

• Understand the impact of their actions

• Can dress themselves 

• Offer to help others in distress

 7 to 8-year-olds

• Exhibit competitive spirit in games

• Like to join sports teams or clubs

• Make friends of the opposite gender

• Enjoy telling jokes

• Able to play with other kids

• Can separate fantasy from reality

• Help with simple chores at home, like clearing table after meals

Tips for Parents

• Self- regulation doesn’t happen overnight. But children are highly observant, so leading by example will help in the progression. As per current research, a parents ability to self regulate has an enormous impact on the child. Encourage and teach your child to express her feelings, especially when they show nonverbal signs of negative emotion; a slumped posture, clear facial expressions and prolonged fatigue.

• Praise your child often when they do things right, like picking up their toys.

• Set up clear family rules; no jumping on furniture, no hitting, etc.

• Regularly use positive strategies of discipline inside and outside the home.

• Encourage your children to play with other kids, whether at school, sports ground or parks.

• Invite peers home for play dates.

Though you have been the primary teacher of your child’s life in the first few years, it is time to broaden his horizons and let others especially school, teachers, and peers help him develop into a respectful, smart and confident adult in the future.