- Emotional, Social, and Intellectual Development.
This is the age we used to call "latency" or "pre-puberty". Children, from about
age 6 to 12, are no longer so excitable as they used to be. They are able to pay
attention for a longer period of time; able to follow more complex instructions,
and focus on tasks they are not necessarily fascinated with. They are more
compliant, more polite, and they have a thirst for intellectual matters. Many of
them express extra interest in sport activities. They form stable friendships,
and are modestly interested in the opposite sex. These pre-teenagers choose
their favorite subjects and their favorite teachers. These are the last
undisturbed, "happy years", before they grow up. If your child shows signs of
sadness regularly about school, about friends, and about grownups, you have a
reason for concern.
The individual differences in intellectual performances become more visible.
The parents’ obligation, at this period, is to accept those differences, and be
as supportive of their children’s social and intellectual achievements as
possible. Speaking to teachers on a regular bases, no matter how inconvenient it
could be for you, is one of the most effective ways to show support, and to
assist in improving your child’s school performance.
- Conscious Choice for After School Activities.
Giving unlimited freedom to choose after-school activities for your child might
not be the most constructive solution. Kids, sometimes even parents, need
guidance in selecting the right extracurricular plan, the most suitable for the
children. It’s worth the effort to consult about it, even if the program you end
up picking will change a few times over the course of many academic years.
Proactive Parenting involves paying attention to little details about what is
best for your child in the present, and in his or her future.
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