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SEVEN YEARS

DEVELOPMENT

PHYSICAL
·         Still has better large muscle than small muscle coordination
·         Rides a two-wheeler
·         Begins to alternate rigorous and restful activities independently.
·         Favors competitive games.
·         Has more refined eye-hand coordination.
·         May ask endless questions about life, death, and the human body.
·         Still occupied with subject of teeth.

EMOTIONAL
·         Becomes better at expressing negative feelings through language
·         May blame another for own mistake.

SOCIAL
·         Plays with boys and girls together.
·         Usually has a best friend of the same sex.
·         Shows growing concern about popularity among peers.
·         Seeks approval of peers as well as adults.
·         Takes it upon self to enforce rules.
·         Tattles on other children perceived to be misbehaving.
·         Tends to be quite critical.
·         Begins to look for role-models.

MENTAL
·         Experiences rapid language development.
·         Wants to be "first", "best", "perfect", "correct", in everything.
·         Is greatly concerned with right and wrong.
·         Still has difficulty with the concepts of honesty and dishonesty.
·         Begins to use logical reasoning to solve problems.
·         Continues to enjoy dramatic play.

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, Girls 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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