5 TO 8 YEARS
What Children Are Like
- Grow curious about people and how the world works - by 7, are beginning to understand other people's feelings and that varying viewpoints and lifestyles exist
- Show an increasing interest in numbers, letters, reading, and writing - by 7, most understand adding and subtracting if real objects and real situations are often used, can really read, and can draw/write/spell stories (in their own ways)
- Become more and more interested in a final product as they move toward 7
- Gain more confidence in physical skills
- Like grown-up activities - by 7, show interest in jobs admired adults do
- Use words to express feelings and to cope but still may need adult help to calm down - by 7, many children are able to help others plan group activities and solve social problems
- Become more outgoing, play cooperatively, need to make many choices and decisions and to initiate independent activities; also need time to play alone
- Still need reassurance and affection
- Need protection from the competitive stress-producing world many of today's children find themselves in , and warmly enthusiastic adult support for what they can do and do do "right"
Types Of Good Toys And Worthwhile Activities
- All the toys for 3 and 4 year olds
- More complex puzzles
- More difficult games, including board and card games
- Yarn, big needles, mesh fabric, weaving
- Magnets, balance scales, magnifying glass, math games made for 5 through 7 year olds with pieces to handle
- Books with chapters, favorite stories children can read and books adults can read to children (even 7 and 8 year olds), children's recipe books, diaries for the older children to write in privately, picture dictionaries
- Watercolors, stapler, hole punch, chalkboard, oil crayons, paint crayons, charcoal, simple camera, film
- More unit blocks, props; hollow or attribute blocks
- Brace & bits, screwdriver, screws, measuring tape
- Sand & water play: food coloring, pump, funnel, containers
- Harmonica, kazoo, guitar, recorder
- Outdoor toys: playground ball, tetherball, jump rope, Frisbee, bicycle, roller skates
- Cash register, other dramatic play props
- Nature activities
- 7 and 8 year olds are beginning to be interested in hobbies, group and team games, clubs, and time to "hang out" and talk with friends
- Computer
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