SocDev78yr

Things begin to mellow out once a child reaches the ages of seven and eight and, as a parent, you get a bit of a reprieve before diving into the pre-teen and adolescent years.

Common social/emotional behavior for children between the ages of seven and eight include:

May have fears, such as fear of monsters, death, or rejection.
Likes others based on their appearance and/or possessions.
Wants to be first, line leader, called on, or to win.
Sees the world in "good" and "bad."
May be overly sensitive and have feelings hurt easily.
Begins to understand "the other side," or someone else's opinion or feelings.
Tattling is common.
Likes to play games.
May have several friends, a few which are considered "best" friends. May also have 1-2 enemies.

About the Author: Dr. Catherine Swanson Cain, PhD, LMFT provides counseling and therapy to families of young children with behavior problems or mental health disabilities. She also provides consultation and training to educators, child care providers, and professionals on a variety of behavioral health issues.