How Kids Grow: Defining Normal Behavior - Normal Behavior of Children Development

Written by Elaine M. Gibson

What to expect:

• Demands attention from parents but wants parents to think the way the child does.
• Overly sensitive to parents approval or disapproval.
• Often fights with mother.
• Sees every situation as black or white.
• Believes all rules are black and white and has trouble playing with peers.
• Boys want to play with boys and girls want to play with girls.
• May cry when tired and has stomachaches when worried.

Needs:

• Recognition.
• Encouragement.
• Structure.
• Techniques to reduce stress.

Discipline:

• Give lots of attention for good behavior. Describe the behavior.
• Don't argue with an eight.
• Rules must be consistent.

Nine

What to expect:

• Fiddles with things and is increasingly awkward.
• Friends are more important than mother.
• Rebels against too many directions and direct orders.
• Thinks all adults are stupid.

Needs:

• Skills for cooperation.
• Opportunities to tell themselves what to do.

Discipline:

• Avoid being too bossy with a nine.
• Encourage independence and cooperation.

Ten

What to expect: The most docile age.

• Accepts parents wishes and generally obeys.
• Learns to disobey in small rebellions: doesn't mind immediately, argues.
• Sees rules as flexible and makes excuses for all misbehavior.
• Demands that friends keep promises.

Needs:

• Space.
• Opportunities to make decisions.
• Must be held accountable for the results of choices.

Discipline:

• Don't argue.
• Give them room to rebel in safe ways.

Enjoy the ten year old. It is a Golden Age.