Your child at age 8
Many
parents can't help but wonder if their children are growing and developing the
right way. Sometimes shared milestones can be a useful tool.
But
remember that all children are different and special. Milestones should be
guidelines, not hard and fast rules.
If you
have specific questions about how your child reached a specific milestone
associated with age 8, you should check with your family doctor or your child's
pediatrician.
Watch
out for these types of milestones:
- Language and academic
- Development
- Social and emotional
Language and education
An 8
year old, usually in third grade, will continue to develop more advanced
language skills.
- Their focus and attention span improve.
- They will improve pronunciation and learn to follow more commands in a row than they could at age 7.
- Reading skills become more sophisticated. Kids are reading more for content than to learn how to do it.
- Around this age, they see that some words have more than one meaning. That helps them understand jokes and puns and start verbally expressing a sense of humor.
- Children in early school years can show fast growth in mental ability.
By
now, children:
- Can count backwards
- Know the date
- Know days of the week and months, in order
- Like to collect things
- Like reading more
- Understand fractions
Parents
should meet with the school administration and teachers. Participate in
homework. If you think your 8 year old is falling behind, stay calm but watch
out for:
- Difficulties with reading or learning
- Something that worries your child, such as bullying
- Mental health problems or stress
Development
- Most 8 year olds can fully dress and groom themselves.
- They become more physically coordinated - jumping, jumping, chasing
- Baby teeth will always fall out to make room for new permanent teeth.
- Children of primary grades often complain of pain in the abdomen, legs, etc. This may be because they are becoming more aware of their body. However, parents should check these complaints to ensure there are no injuries or illnesses.
Resist
the urge to compare your child to others or to the "norm" you've
heard about.
Your
doctor should have a growth chart for each child. She will use it to decide if
there might be a growth problem. If you're concerned about precocious puberty,
which can sometimes start around age 8, talk to your doctor to find out if it's
started, and if so, how to deal with it.
Don't
force your child to eat more to reach what is considered "standard"
weight.
Social and emotional
- Peer acceptance becomes more important to your child than in the early years of school.
- He learns to collaborate and share.
- Around the age of 8, children start to relax with the opposite sex. Boys and girls can communicate more easily during recess. They may be interested in the relationship between boys and girls, but they don't want to talk about it.
- He likes games and competitions.
- Organized clubs may be attractive to him.
- Lying, cheating and stealing are quite expected in the early school years. Children learn where they stand and what is acceptable.
Safety
- Injuries are the biggest threat to your child's safety in the early years of school.
- By age 8, children become more independent and possibly rebellious by trying new things. Remember to keep him safe in cars and near water, even if he can swim.
- Make sure he wears a helmet when he rides a bike, scooter or skateboard. And remember, he's not old enough to ride alone because it's getting dark outside.
Other ways parents can help
- Set time limits for video games, computer use and television. Keep screens away from children's bedrooms. Also, make sure screen time doesn't cut into physical play, getting enough sleep, and spending time with family.
- Keep reading to your 8 year old and encourage him to read to you.
- Think about parental controls on computers and TV. Thus, they will not see content they are not ready for.
- Don't be afraid to talk to your kids about difficult topics like peer pressure, violence, drug use and sexuality. Find age-appropriate ways to answer questions without adding confusion or fear.
- Support your child's self-esteem and encourage him to have fun and express himself.
- Consider swimming lessons and fire safety training.