Developmental Stages Of Children
It is completely normal to wonder if your child is growing and developing at the right pace. Sometimes common milestones can be a helpful tool. While the milestones below are important in measuring your child’s development, it is vital to remember that milestones are supposed to be guidelines, not strict rules. However, if you do have any specific questions about the development stages of children and if your child is hitting the milestones associated with their age, you should consult your family doctor or your child’s paediatrician, just to put your mind at rest. I have compiled a list of common milestones through the ages of 4-10 years old for you to use as a rough guide.
Developmental Stages of Children: 4-5 Years Old
It is common knowledge that children of this age love to play and this is how they best learn. At this age, your child should be running, hopping, throwing and kicking balls, climbing, and swinging with ease. Most children at this age also begin to develop greater independence, self-control, and creativity. This means they become more content with playing with their toys for longer periods of time and are eager to try new things. When they get frustrated, they are also are better able to express their emotions. Below is a list of common developmental stages of children aged 4-5 years old:
Language & Cognitive Milestones:
Speak clearly using more complex sentences
Count ten or more objects
Correctly name at least four colours and three shapes
Recognise some letters and possibly write their name
Better understand the concept of time and the order of daily activities, like breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, and dinner at night
Have a greater attention span
Follow two- to three-part commands. For example, "Put your book away, brush your teeth, and then get in bed."
Recognise familiar word signs, such as "STOP"
Know their address and phone number, if taught
Social & Emotional Milestones:
Enjoys playing with other children and pleasing their friends
Shares and takes turns, at least most of the time, and understands rules of games
Understands and obeys rules; however, your 4- to 5-year-old will still be demanding and uncooperative at times.
Is becoming more independent
Expresses anger verbally, rather than physically (most of the time)
Physical Milestones:
Stand on one foot for more than 9 seconds
Do a somersault and hop
Walk up and down stairs without help
Walk forward and backwards easily
Pedal a tricycle
Copy a triangle, circle, square, and other shapes
Draw a person with a body
Stack 10 or more blocks
Use a fork and spoon
Dress and undress, brush teeth and take care of other personal needs without much help
Developmental Stages of Children: 6 Years Old
At 6 years old, your child should really start to come into their own physically, creatively, and cognitively. It is the age where they usually start to become familiar with the concept of lying and stealing so this should definitely be expected and tackled appropriately. They start to become more aware of the people around them, particularly their friends and being accepted by them. Below is a list of common developmental stages of children aged 6 years old:
Language & Cognitive Milestones:
Speak in simple but complete sentences with five to seven words
Follow a series of three commands in a row
Start to see that some words have more than one meaning. That helps them understand jokes and puns and start verbally expressing a sense of humour.
Start to show fast growth in mental ability
Begin to read books that are right for their age
Sound out or decode unfamiliar words
Focus on a task in school for 15 minutes
Social & Emotional Milestones:
By age 6, kids are getting more and more independent from their parents. They will try to show how big they are, and do things that might be dangerous.
Peer acceptance becomes more important than before. They are learning to cooperate and share.
Boys will tend to play with boys and girls with girls.
It’s about now that kids start to develop skills and attention spans and understand teamwork to start playing organised sports.
With growing language skills, kids get increasingly better at describing what has happened, what they feel, and what they think.
Lying, cheating, and stealing is to be expected somewhat at this age. Kids are figuring out where they fit and what’s acceptable.
Physical Milestones:
Shows off ever-improving locomotor skills, such as running, jumping, and skipping
Demonstrates stronger hand-eye coordination (better able to kick a ball into a goal or throw a ball at a target)
Follows rules of a game or sport, so sports often become more meaningful
Developmental Stages of Children: 7 Years Old
At 7 years old, children are much more capable of understanding complex orders and instructions compared to when they were 6. They will continue to become more independent and may try to prove themselves in ways that could potentially be deemed dangerous, so make sure to keep an eye out for this. At this age, they also take great pride in sharing their knowledge about things and often enjoy showing younger children skills that they themselves have mastered. Conversely, though, many 7-year-olds will also feel insecure about themselves and may be their own worst critics. Parents, teachers, and other adults can help by offering frequent encouragement and support. Below is a list of common developmental stages of children aged 7 years old:
Language & Cognitive Milestones:
Names the characters, setting, problem and solution in books or shows
Solves word problems in math
Start to see that some words have more than one meaning. That helps them understand jokes and puns and start verbally expressing a sense of humour.
Uses increasingly complex and creative strategies to solve problems
Social & Emotional Milestones:
Describes the causes and consequences of emotions, such as saying, “I got mad because I really wanted to go to the park.”
Manages emotions better, especially in public situations.
Starts to use self-calming strategies, such as repeating phrases or taking deep breaths, when feeling distressed
Physical Milestones:
Rides a two-wheeled bicycle
Performs movements that are done while standing in place such as twisting, turning, and spinning
Shows improved skill at performing simple chores, such as making their bed or sweeping the floors
Developmental Stages of Children: 8-10 Years Old
Between these ages, children are advancing toward adolescence, and peer friendships start to become very important in their social and emotional development. They have a growing sense of independence, and with it, a growing confidence to solve problems and perhaps take risks. They also begin to show a capacity for self-evaluation and can laugh at themselves. Children at this stage are becoming more involved in organized sports, but nothing surpasses outdoor exercise and playground time in importance for their physical well-being and development. Below is a list of common developmental stages of children aged 8-10 years old:
Language & Cognitive Milestones:
Face more academic challenges at school.
Become more independent from the family.
Begin to see the point of view of others more clearly.
Have an increased attention span.
Social & Emotional Milestones:
Learn to cooperate in group settings and group games; dislike playing alone
Develop lasting friendships and begin to handle peer pressure
Enjoy group activities and group games that focus on a common interest
Demonstrate growing independence, leading to concern with rules that can lead to bossiness
Use problem-solving, negotiating and compromising skills with peers
Begin to develop sportsmanship and learn about winning and losing gracefully
Become sensitive to what others think of them and to adult approval
Become enthusiastic to tackle anything and will work hard to develop a skill
Can express subtle emotions and experience moments of anger or frustration
Can change emotions quickly
Show interest in being more grown-up and able to begin tackling more responsibilities and routines
Begin to develop their own point of view, which is sometimes different from parents’ ideas
Physical Development:
Increase in stamina, body strength and hand dexterity through physical activities
Increase in large-muscle coordination, leading to success in organized sports and games
Increase in small-muscle coordination, allowing them to learn complex craft skills
Refinement of finger control
Enjoyment of rough-and-tumble games with peers
Refinement of group game skills and team sports skills such as throwing, catching and kicking
Development of manual skills and interest in things such as cooking and carpentry
Slow and steady growth (Arms are lengthening; hands are growing. Girls are growing faster.)
Sexual development, which is more rapid in girls than boys
