Characteristics of a 7 and 8 Year Old Child
Characteristics of a seven-year-old:
Characteristics of an eight-year-old:
- Is in a responsive age.
- Reaches out for new experiences trying to relate himself to his enlarged world.
- Is developing language rapidly, likes to talk and uses language to tell stories and to express his/her feelings.
- Is often dreamy or absorbed.
- Likes to be given responsibility.
- Learns better in an active situation.
- Is interested in books and the information they offer.
- Likes television and may need limits placed on what he is allowed to see.
- Often seems restless.
- Likes to win.
- Is learning to stand up for his/her own rights.
- Is increasingly sensitive to what other children and adults think of him/her and whether they like and approve of him/her.
- Has difficulty accepting criticism from adults.
- Reacts poorly to being teased or ridiculed.
- Has a strong drive toward independence and wants to assume the standards of children slightly older, but does not trust himself.
- Needs adult support and encouragement to be independent and spontaneous.
- Lives primarily in the immediate present, but is beginning to have more understanding of time.
- Still dawdles.
- Understands the purpose of money.
- Is beginning to develop an ethical sense; takes some responsibility for his own actions, is concerned with right and wrong, and does not completely understand truthfulness and honesty.
Characteristics of an eight-year-old:
- Is interested in games requiring coordination of small muscles.
- Arms are lengthening and hands are growing larger.
- Eyes can accommodate more easily.
- Some develop poor posture.
- Accidents appear to occur more frequently.
- Appreciates correct skill performance.
- Girls are careful of their clothes, but boys are not.
- Leaves many things uncompleted.
- Has longer periods of peaceful play.
- Does not like playing alone.
- Starts collections.
- Enjoys school and dislikes staying home.
- Likes variety.
- Responds well to group activity.
- Interest will focus on friends of own sex.
- Dislikes taking much criticism from adults.
- Can give and take criticism in his own group.
- May develop enemies.
- Does not like to be treated as a child.
- First impulse is to blame others.
- Can tell day of month and year.
- Becoming more aware of adult world and his place in it.
- Ready to tackle almost anything.
- Like to memorize.
- Not always good at telling time, but very much aware of it.
(Compiled by Katherine Abt, Baltimore City Dept. of Social Services, Division of day Care Training Unit)