Your child at age 9
Your 9
year old is a good example of the old saying "still water runs deep."
There's more going on in his head than you think. And this is the age when he
will do many things in many different ways.
Mental and physical development
It may
appear that your 9 year old has dozed off, as if he is "overwhelmed"
or "in another world." But the world he finds himself in is new and
interesting. He begins to realize that he is loved and seeks approval. He will
also begin to show that he knows right from wrong and understands the rules.
She
will probably start talking to you about her feelings and emotions. She might
even surprise you by using slang and repeating what her friends at school used
to say.
You
may also notice the first signs of puberty, with girls starting to grow breasts
and boys starting to grow testicles and penises. Then the growth of hair under
the arms and in the pubic area.
Your 9
year old may be better coordinated and better at things like kicking, throwing,
catching and balancing. Some children will jump forward in sports such as
football, baseball, or basketball. They may also begin to consider themselves
athletic or non-athletic.
Social
At the
age of 9, hanging out with friends can become an important event: boys are more
likely to want to be with other boys, and girls are more likely to want to be
with other girls.
They
may also change how they play: boys may be more outdoors and more physical,
although girls may sweat with them, and both boys and girls may be more
interested in board games.
Academic
- Most 9-year-olds are in the fourth grade. At this stage, their handwriting is usually more polished. They can connect letters, write letters of the same size, and write in a straight line without lines on the page.
- They can also write down their ideas. They can write a multi-paragraph story on the same topic or outline with a beginning, middle, and end.
- They can read aloud and read more complex and longer books. They are likely to be able to learn from what they read and follow instructions.
- If they find a topic they like, they can start looking for more information on their own. They will also begin to learn more advanced math subjects such as decimals, division up and finally geometry.
- With a longer attention span, they will have more interests and start doing things like collecting and hobbies. But with so many interests, they will change things.
If you
think your child is doing poorly in school, talk to their teacher to see if you
have any reason to be concerned. She can also suggest ways to help your child
with homework and keep them interested in learning.
Your role
When
your 9-year-old daughter begins to spread her wings, you can help her by giving
her support. Talk to her about her friends and what she does. Encourage her to
participate in school activities, groups, or sports.
When
your child comes home from school, talk to them about how the day went and help
them with their homework if they need it. Assigning a time and place for
homework can provide structure and tell her what is expected.
Set
rules for dealing with adults and other children and praise her when she
behaves well.
You
can also assign her chores around the house, such as picking up her clothes,
making her bed, taking out the garbage cans, and washing the dishes.
Screen
time should be limited to 1-2 hours per day. Make it something you look forward
to after your homework or chores.
This
is also a good time to start setting up some ground rules for being online.
Tell your child not to share any information with anyone, such as passwords,
photos, your home address or phone number. She needs to know that not
everything she reads or sees online is true, and she needs to let you know if a
stranger tries to talk to her online.
Chat together online and let her show you where she likes to go.