Welcome to School Counseling

Cathy Leighton, Counselor

What to expect from your child

This is general developmental information.   Individual children may experience these at different ages.    Any of these areas taken to extreme my need helpful coping strategies

7-8 year old

• becoming more social
• energy increase
• works more quickly to get done fast
• prefers same gender activities and may like just one friend at a time
• begins to master basic skills
• may exaggerate, more talkative
• growing interest in rules, logic, "fairness"
• tire easily, may give up but can bounce back quickly
• several short breaks are more productive than one long break
• can be moody and may want/need alone time
• may be perfectionistic and use an eraser often
• like routine and structure and may complain if things are not done the "right way"
• may be more sensitive to body complaints and hurt feelings
• may see separation issues as they begin to understand the world around them and fears appear

8-9 year old

• age of negatives: " I can't", "boring", "I hate it"
• vocabulary growth and language play
• competitive
• anxiety, worry, critical
• tension outlets such as nail biting, hair twisting
• pushes self physically, more injuries and physical complaints
• may try to take on more than they can handle as they do not see the limitations
• Impatient
• Reading to learn
• Cliques may begin as they enjoy larger group socialization (watch for teasing and bullying)
• Need to learn physical and social control and boundaries
• Laughing with them is fun as they increasingly enjoy jokes and riddles
• patience is hard for them when things are not easily done
• need for outdoor, large muscle, activity time
• may still need help transitioning from one activity to another.