The golden years for children are between the ages of 7 and 9 years old. At this age, children
can grasp new information quickly. They start seeing the world in a new and exciting way and,
because of this, they are beginning to develop their morals and values. And while they are
making leaps and bounds in maturity, they still need a lot of guidance from adults in their lives.
Children between the ages of 7 and 9 years old are full of energy and their personalities are
more distinct. They have an increased desire to be independent and they want to be recognized
for their intelligence. Children at this age love interacting with others and enjoy making friends
which leads to the sense of belonging they crave. And although they are exhibiting more
independence, they still have a strong desire to be connected to the important adults in their
lives and need approval from them.
The growth at this age is exciting to witness but can come with its own set of challenges for
parents and teachers. This increased independence and sophisticated thinking leads to a more
opinionated child. Children at this age may begin complaining about the fairness of rules and
will argue their point of view. They also get distracted and almost seem to “space out” because
they are intrigued by all the exciting things going on around them. Friendships blossom during
this time but this often comes with the development of peer pressure because they begin
valuing their friends’ opinions of them.
During the time between the ages of 7 and 9 years old, it is important for parents and teachers
to guide children. Understanding where they are in this stage of development is vital to helping
them be the most successful they can be. They will want to be independent but, they also want
to be close to their parents. It is a very delicate balance. They key is to let them make choices
and help with things but, when they need guidance, do so in a way that does not crush their
growing autonomy.
The Core SKILLZ program was specifically designed for children at this age. The goal of this
program is to adapt to their adventurous attitude while building skills that set them up for
success. Some of the goals of the program are to help them stay focused, persevere through
tasks they find more difficult, show intensity on easy tasks, and show courage when trying
something new. The highly trained SKILLZ instructors are also vital to the success of this
program. Connecting with each student and utilizing edutainment are two of the most important
laws of instruction when working with this age group.
The child-adult bond is of great importance at this stage of childhood. However, for this bond to
help the child to develop in the best way possible, it is vital that the adults in their lives know
what to expect. The balance between wanting independence and needing approval can be
difficult but with the right guidance from adults, children can develop their autonomy from the
encouragement of the adults in their lives.