Unit of Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust
Six – Nine Years
Parenting Tips!
- Primary school-aged children strive to “fit in” at home, at school, and with friends. Feeling successful in these areas builds children’s self-confidence and self-concept.
- Children transition from a life dominated by fantasy to one that is beginning to be governed by logic and reason.
- As children develop their self-perceptions in response to external influences, it’s crucial for parents to regularly check-in with them, asking about their thoughts and feelings.
WHAT
Children’s self-esteem varies daily, and they begin to assert their individuality and autonomy. Friendships are vital to their identity.
WHY
Strong friendships promote healthy behaviours and build confidence. Children develop a strong sense of right and wrong.
HOW
Teach social skills for friendships and model healthy relationships. Praise effort, not just outcomes.
WHAT
Children continue to develop a range of physical skills like kicking, catching, riding bikes, and roller-skating. They improve in fine motor tasks like drawing and tying shoelaces.
WHY
Children enhance their locomotor and fine motor skills, gaining better control, coordination, and balance. Increased muscle mass makes them stronger.
HOW
Offer opportunities for diverse indoor and outdoor sports tailored to their interests. Encourage team sports to promote teamwork and sportsmanship.
WHAT
Grade-schoolers develop social skills to navigate friendships and resolve conflicts independently. Peer acceptance is important, and often prefer same-sex friends.
WHY
Friendships and relationships become more complex, focusing on social skills and empathy. The playground is a testing ground for forming and refining friendships.
HOW
Provide opportunities for social interactions with friends and family. Praise positive interactions to reinforce social skills.
WHAT
Children become more logical and sophisticated in their thinking. They have longer attention spans, handling more complex tasks. Their math and literacy skills develop rapidly.
WHY
This stage is a crucial transition towards abstract thinking. Children develop socio-centricity, understanding others' thoughts and feelings, and learning to prioritise others' needs.
HOW
Engage in cognitive games like puzzles and strategy games to enhance memory and problem-solving abilities. Continue reading together to foster literacy skills.
WHAT
Children develop adept listening skills and communicate independently. They write short paragraphs and stories using proper conventions, and become independent readers.
WHY
During this stage, children explore and expand on the four major components of communication: listening, talking, reading, and writing. Listening and speaking develop simultaneously.
HOW
Encourage children to retell stories, predict outcomes, and discuss main ideas and themes. This helps refine their cognitive, listening and speaking skills.