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NINE YEARS

DEVELOPMENT

PHYSICAL
·         Acquires greater small muscle coordination
·         Has increasing dexterity
·         Usually does not have much gain in height and weight from previous year
·         Favors active, highly-charged games and sports
·         Wants to excel in sports and recreational skills
·         Becomes more interested in clothing and appearance
·         Loves bathroom humor

EMOTIONAL
·         Becomes self-absorbed and introspective
·         Tends to be critical of self
·         Takes comfort in knowing others experience similar troubling feelings

SOCIAL
·         Has ideas and interests independent from parents
·         Does not like anything "different"
·         Wants to talk, dress, and act just like friends
·         Is involved in informal clubs and small groups of the same sex
·         Begins to just sit and talk with friends MENTAL
·         Uses reference books with increasing skills
·         Becomes immersed in a hobby or project, then drops it for another
·         May be a perfectionist
·         Generally follows instructions
·         Is developing personal standards of right and wrong
·         Is highly concerned about fairness

PARENTING
·         Read to your child every night
·         Limit the amount and monitor the quality of television
·         Provide a quiet, well-lit place for homework
·         Be available for supervision
·         May want to start an outside group activity (soccer team, dance class, Girl Scouts, church group, etc.)
·         Get to know your child's friends and their parents
·         Provide supervision for your child after school. This is the best protection against future problems. 

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