Developmental Stages of Youth

5-7 Year Olds

General Characteristics

• Eager to learn; easily fatigued; short periods of interest
• Learns best when they are active while learning
• Self-assertive, boastful; less cooperative; more competitive

Physical Characteristics

• Very active; needs frequent breaks from tasks to do things that are fun
• Needs rest periods--good quiet activities like reading books together or art projects
• May tend to be accident prone

Social characteristics

• Enjoys organized games; concerned about rules
• Very competitive
• Very imaginative
• Aggressive; wants to be first

• Alert to feelings of others but unaware of how their actions affect others
• Very sensitive to praise and recognition; feelings are easily hurt
• Inconsistent in level of maturity; often less mature at home than with outsiders

• Very eager to learn
• Like to talk
• Difficulty making decisions

• Be patient, flexible and encouraging
• Give praise for acceptable behavior

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General characteristics

• Interested in people; aware of differences; willing to give more to others but expect more
• Busy, active, full of enthusiasm; may try too much; interested in money and its value
• Sensitive to criticism; recognize failure
• Decisive; dependable; reasonable; strong sense of right and wrong
• Often outspoken and critical of adults; still dependant on adult approval

• Very active; needs frequent breaks from tasks to do things that are fun
• Early maturers may be upset about their size
• May tend to be accident prone

• Can be very competitive
• Choosy about friends
• Acceptance by friends becomes very important
• Often idolizes heroes, TV stars and sports figures

• Very sensitive to praise and recognition; feelings are easily hurt
• Because friends become very important, can be conflicts between adults' rules and friends' rules--honesty and consistency can be helpful

• Can be inflexible about their idea of what is fair
• Eager to answer questions
• Very curious; collects everything
• Wants more independence while knowing that they need guidance and support
• Wide discrepancies in reading ability

• Recognize allegiance to friends and "heroes"
• Remind child of responsibilities in a two-way relationship
• Acknowledge performance
• Offer to teach about different cultures
• Provide candid answers to questions about upcoming physiological changes

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General characteristics

• Testing limits; a "know-it-all" attitude
• Vulnerable; emotionally insecure; fear of rejection; mood swings
• Identification with admired adults
• Bodies going through physical changes

• Good coordination of small muscles; interest in art, crafts, models and music
• Very concerned about appearance; very self-conscious about physical changes
• May have bad diet and sleep habits

• Acceptance by friends becomes very important
• Cliques start to develop
• Often have "crushes" on other people
• Friends set general rules of behavior
• Feel a strong need to conform; dress and behave like their peers
• Very concerned about what others say or think anout them
• Becomes manipulative

• Caught between being a child and adult
• Very sensitive to praise and recognition; feelings are easily hurt
• Loud behavior may hide their lack of self-confidence
• Looks at the world more objectively and adults subjectively

• Tend to be perfectionists
• Want more independence
• May have lengthy attention span

• Offer alternative options without being insistent
• Be accepting of different physical states and emotional changes
• Give candid answers to questions
• Do not tease about appearance, clothes, boyfriends/girlfriends, sexuality--affirm them instead

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