Self-care: What to expect when
As your child gets older he'll learn – and want – to do more things for himself, from popping waffles in the toaster to breaking out the vacuum cleaner to tidy up his bedroom (you hope!). While watching your child grow increasingly independent can be bittersweet, learning to take care of himself is an important part of your child's personal and social development.
Skills he'll work at
Taking a bath or shower: At this age a lot of children are comfortable taking a bath or shower on their own, though you don't want to be too far awaya>, says Denise Aloisio, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in Rochester, New York. Stay within earshot in case your child needs a hand. Aloisio also recommends that parents lower the temperature on the family's hot-water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so a child can't accidentally scald himself. And always encourage your child always to turn the cold water on first.
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Preparing breakfast: Six-year-olds can fix themselves cold cereal and pour juice or milk. Eight-year-olds are probably ready to use the toaster oven for heating muffins, bagels, and other breakfast items.
Packing his backpack: By the time your child is about 8, he should be able to pack his schoolbag with all the necessities for the day, such as books, food, musical instruments, and sports gear. Until then, you'll want to help him gather the right stuff.
Making his lunch: With limited choices and some guidance from you, your school-age child is capable of packing his own lunch. Take a peek to make sure that what he's bringing to school is, for the most part, nutritious –no potato chip-marshmallow sandwiches, for instance.
Helping out around the house: Children this age can pick up their toys, make their beds, and clean their rooms –they can even take the vacuum cleaner out for a spin. They can also lend a hand with tasks in the kitchen and garden.
What you can do
Always, encouragement is key. Whenever your child tries his hand at a new skill, tell him you're proud he made the effort (regardless of the result) and urge him to try again. Don't always jump in to help; it's essential that he have enough time to master tasks on his own, at his own pace. Try not to pressure him before he's ready, either. Be flexible –if making his own lunch means bologna every day for a week, so be it. More important things, like independence and self-sufficiency, are at stake. If he misses a few sections of carpet as he vacuums, let it go. The more he practices his new skills, the better he'll get.
Keep a watchful eye on your child as he experiments with doing things he hasn't tried before, and explain why he can't do everything for himself. Tell him, for instance, why it's not safe for him to walk to his friend's house alone, or why he can't fire up the barbecue just yet. He probably won't be happy about it, but he'll understand your reasoning.
What to watch out for
Children develop skills differently, some more quickly than others, but if your child actively resists attempting any of the tasks above or shows no interest in learning them, talk to his pediatrician.
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What's ahead
As the years roll by, your child will get better and better at taking care of himself. At around age 10 or 11, he'll be able to stay home alone, for instance, for short periods and with clear instructions. Then it's simply a matter of time before he can do laundry and cook dinner, not to mention drive himself to soccer practice –or, better yet, bring you breakfast in bed.
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I'm an experienced developmental-behavioral expert with in-depth knowledge in child growth and independence. My expertise spans various aspects of children's personal and social development. Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article about self-care and a child's growing independence.
1. Taking a bath or shower:
- Children are encouraged to take baths or showers on their own, with parental supervision within earshot for assistance.
- A developmental-behavioral pediatrician, Denise Aloisio, suggests lowering hot-water temperature to prevent accidental scalding.
2. Preparing breakfast:
- Six-year-olds can handle cold cereal and pouring juice or milk.
- Eight-year-olds are ready to use the toaster oven for heating muffins, bagels, and other breakfast items.
3. Packing his backpack:
- By the age of 8, a child should be capable of independently packing a schoolbag with all necessary items for the day.
4. Making his lunch:
- School-age children, with limited choices and guidance, can pack their own lunch.
- Parents are advised to ensure the packed lunch is mostly nutritious.
5. Helping out around the house:
- Children, at this age, can engage in household tasks such as picking up toys, making beds, cleaning rooms, using the vacuum cleaner, and assisting in the kitchen and garden.
Encouragement and Flexibility:
- Encouragement is emphasized when a child attempts new skills.
- Parents are advised not to always jump in to help, allowing the child enough time to master tasks at their own pace.
- Flexibility is key – if making lunch means repetition, it's acceptable for the sake of fostering independence.
Parental Guidance:
- Parents should keep a watchful eye on their child as they experiment with new skills.
- It's important to explain safety concerns, such as why certain tasks are not yet suitable for the child.
Warning Signs:
- If a child actively resists attempting tasks or shows no interest in learning them, parents are advised to consult with the pediatrician.
Future Developments:
- As the child grows, they will become better at self-care.
- Around age 10 or 11, children may be able to stay home alone for short periods.
- Further milestones include doing laundry, cooking dinner, and eventually driving themselves to activities.
In conclusion, the article provides valuable insights into fostering a child's independence and self-sufficiency, emphasizing the importance of encouragement, flexibility, and age-appropriate guidance.
FAQs
Helping out around the house: Children this age can pick up their toys, make their beds, and clean their rooms – they can even take the vacuum cleaner out for a spin. They can also lend a hand with tasks in the kitchen and garden.
What are the developmental milestones for 6 8 years old? ›
By this time, children can dress themselves, catch a ball more easily using only their hands, and tie their shoes. Having independence from family becomes more important now. Events such as starting school bring children this age into regular contact with the larger world. Friendships become more and more important.
What is social emotional development 6 8 years old? ›
Emotional/Social Changes
Start to think about the future. Understand more about his or her place in the world. Pay more attention to friendships and teamwork. Want to be liked and accepted by friends.
What are the emotional development milestones for 7 8 years? ›
They have a more realistic understanding of their abilities. Thanks to their developing self-esteem, they have better control over how they react to mistakes or failures. Their understanding of the notion of good and bad continues to improve. They can explain why a word or action is or is not acceptable.
What should an 8 year old be doing for themselves? ›
At this age, your child is becoming even more independent. For example, by 8 years of age, your child can brush their teeth and do other daily hygiene tasks without your help. Your child's life is all about family, school, friends and after-school activities.
What is the physical development of a 6 to 8 year old? ›
Kids 6 to 8 years old are sharpening basic physical skills like jumping, throwing, kicking, and catching. Some enjoy doing this in organized sports teams, but non-competitive leagues are best for younger kids. Kids 9 to 12 years old are refining, improving and coordinating skills.
What are developmental milestones at 8? ›
An 8-year-old child, typically in third grade, will continue to develop more complex language skills. Their focus and attention span improve. They will improve pronunciation and learn to follow more commands in a row than they could at age 7. Reading skills become more sophisticated.
What are the social milestones for 8 year olds? ›
Develop lasting friendships and begin to handle peer pressure. Enjoy group activities and group games that focus on a common interest. Demonstrate growing independence, leading to concern with rules that can lead to bossiness. Use problem-solving, negotiating and compromising skills with peers.
What is cognitive development in 6 7 years old? ›
Between 6-7 years your child may:
Be able to do some basic maths such as adding '1 apple to 2 apples makes 3 apples' and will be able to tell when numbers are higher than other number. Be able to give their full name and know their age, birthday and where they live.
What is the psychosocial development of an 8 year old? ›
One component of social and emotional growth in 8- to 10-year olds is their desire for increased independence from parents and siblings, and their increased desire to be seen as intelligent and knowledgeable. As they struggle to find the means to appropriately individuate, they can, at times, seem willful or defiant.
The emotional development of an 8-year-old can look very different than when your child is 7-years-old. Your easy going child may begin to be stubborn. Your fearless child may all of a sudden be full of fears and your social butterfly may begin to have problems with their classmates.
What is a 7 year old emotional behavior? ›
In other words, you may notice your 7- or 8-year-old seems angry or tearful for no reason as they struggle to process their emotions. They may start falling out with their friendship groups or their behavior may seem uncharacteristic. Thankfully there are ways for parents to help their kids manage the change.
What are the social emotional milestones for 8 months old? ›
Baby development at 8-9 months: what's happening
Your baby might even prefer a particular person – this could be you, your partner, or another close family member or carer. Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is pretty common at this age. It might help to know that these are typical parts of child development.
What is cognitive development at age 8? ›
Thinking and reasoning (cognitive development)
They don't usually know the full date and year. Can read simple sentences. Can complete simple single-digit addition and subtraction problems (such as 1 + 8, 7 + 5, 6 - 2, 4 - 3). Can tell the difference between right and left.
What should an 8-year-old do independently? ›
An 8-year-old is likely able to open lunch items like wrappers or zip-lock bags independently and they may be able to play an instrument, such as the recorder. 3 "They should also master being able to tie their shoelaces if they have not already," says Dr. Poinsett.
What should a 7 year old be doing on their own? ›
Helping out around the house: Children this age can pick up their toys, make their beds, and clean their rooms – they can even take the vacuum cleaner out for a spin. They can also lend a hand with tasks in the kitchen and garden.
What do 6 8 year olds like to do? ›
Enjoy large-muscle activities like jump rope, bike riding, roller blading, ball games and hopscotch. Also enjoy fine motor activities like drawing, braiding, cutting, jigsaw puzzles, weaving, wood work and simple sewing.
What are the milestones for cognitive development at 6 9 years old? ›
Become able to understand the viewpoint of others: are aware that others can have different thoughts. Can focus on several aspects of a problem at a time. Can concentrate on what they do for longer periods of time. Increased problem-solving ability, but not yet like an adult.
What are the cognitive milestones for 6 7 year olds? ›
Begin to understand numerical concepts (but still need experiences with real objects). Read and write simple words, sentences and texts. Begin to understand concepts of the life cycle (e.g., death). Show a gradual increase in attention span.
What are the physical milestones for 6 10 years old? ›
Growth between the ages of 6 and 10 usually occurs in spurts but progresses at an overall steady pace. Most children gain an average of 7 lb (3 kg) and 2 in. (6 cm) each year. The loss of baby teeth and their replacement by permanent teeth is one of the most dramatic signs of physical development for this age group.
