Developmental Milestones for a Child (6 to12 yrs)
| Physical Development
School age period (6-15yrs of child’s age) is marked with remarkable changes that occur in your child’s overall development. The competitive attitude amongst boys around this age compels them to work even harder to be at par with their peers. Their playtime includes riding a two wheeler bicycle, jumping a rope, enjoying the fun with ball games e.g. testing their strengths by throwing a ball from a certain height and catching.
|  | Fidgeting with that tool basket lying aside, their growing inquisitiveness doesn’t seem to pause here. Children around 6 to12 yrs of age particularly like keeping themselves involved in activities like drawing and painting. E.g. drawing and colouring a scene that includes simple pictures of clouds, a house, trees and a human figure. Girls may take up to learning simple basic sewing procedures as per the assignments handed over by the schools’ curriculum. Pubertal changes may also set in early for few children, with girls experiencing a growth spurt at around 12 yrs of age.
| Social, Emotional, Intellectual Development
| Children at around this age strive to build their social status in their own way. They may exhibit different traits, while they continue to absorb what they observe around in their neighbourhood and amongst peers at school. From pestering you to let them have their choice of snack in the lunchbox to sporting the trendiest set of clothes. Deciding the theme and having best arrangements as per their choice for the birthday party, they want to earn it all to be well accepted and liked by their peers. Team games are up on their list of playtime at school. Winning and taking away all the applaud is what they look ahead to. May not be willingly receptive towards failures. The concept of having ‘one or two good friends’ tends to gain strong importance in the course of their relations with peers. They would like having a close buddy for a weekend stay at home. They would learn to be more responsive towards the discipline norms set by you. But at times, may resent obeying them.
| They also begin to adapt themselves to the concept of rules, when being in a group. They learn gradually what kind of behaviour would be well received by the peer group and what would not. A child usually does not refrain from going to school every day. Many a times, it so happens that there is a senior child who enjoys bullying him by beating or showing any kind of violent behaviour. In such instances then, a child may become apprehensive, tensed and would then resist going to school. You should seek help discussing these issues with the school teacher and find ways to get him out of this psychological mess. Any unusual observation in a child’s behaviour shouldn’t be ignored as it can affect his academic, extracurricular performance and emotional framework.
| At around 11 to 12 yrs of age, they begin to understand ‘favouritism’ at school. They would continually try to develop and work upon their skills in order to be appreciated and be the favourite of their school teacher. This behaviour may again vary as per the child’s personality and his inborn skills. Some children would be preferred for their extracurricular activities while some would display a wide array of intellectual abilities. In some cases, a teacher may eye an all rounder for a particular activity.
| By about 9 to10 yrs age, children also begin to develop a mature sense of responsibility, would try to comprehend others’ viewpoints. They begin to grow more protective about their belongings which would include their set of toys, games, simple tools for studying e.g. a pencil box, colour sketch pens etc.They wouldn’t resist the opportunity to peep in to a fellow colleague’s answer sheet during exams. May not hesitate to steal or make up his own stories by telling a lie in the process of justifying himself. In general, children at around this age may or may not ape such behaviour and would usually outgrow these habits as their intellect matures. But parents need to emphasise over the consequences of such behaviour to children and remain watchful.
| By around 6 to7 years of age, a child develops better understanding of money. Hobby collection would include storing stamps, coins, stickers, pictures, games etc. He would be able to tell the time accurately, enjoys short telephonic conversations with a close buddy, pens a short letter to his dear aunt. Many children at around 9 to10 yrs age begin to develop specific interest and so excel in those subjects e.g. scoring well in mathematics. He may also like to spend a lot of his time reading books meant for his age. Adds jokes and riddles to the fun element, while having some good time with you. Understands and can list - days in a week, months in order.
| Their developing cognitive skill equips them to plan out their tasks well. Failures can serve as dampeners in their quest to try new challenges. Thus parents need to be encouraging and supportive in the process and never let children sail through a low self esteem.
| Insight into Activities for Your Child
| - Catch up on a visit to a nearby library with your child, to help him get age appropriate books to read. E.g. books that teaches moral values with short interesting stories. Children may try to imbibe the moral lessons very well, when they actually read on their own, unlike when you may try to convey the same through your talks.
- Have a board game session with your child in leisure time. Make sure you also indulge in talks that help him share happenings at school, with friends at play. This would keep you well informed and to reflect on any issue that may be causing trouble to your child.
- Take him along with you to the grocery hub. Let him get to know things better, what you purchase and its use in a simple way. It would also help him know how to interact with store helper; how to behave – importance of good manners. Camping, hiking, visit to the zoo can lend him opportunities to know more about nature.
- Plan a change with dishing up something with your child. Have him around and let him assist you, while doing up cookies. Let him use the chopping board, dicing the vegetables for a yummy salad. Even arranging the bowl of fruit chaat, the way he likes. Your child’s participation should also be encouraged in activities that welcome any celebration and festivals. It helps them to realise and remember the importance of simple tasks, family traditions and practices.
- Nurture his innate skills and capabilities by providing opportunities for the same. Joining a sports club, enrolling for hobby pursuits can be looked into as per the child’s schedule. However, also see to that it doesn’t pressurise the child’s existing routine in any way.
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