Common Characteristics of Eight-Year-Olds

Enthusiastic and imaginative, eights often love big challenges but lack the work skills and patience to complete their plans. Children this age need adult help to know their limits and work through the steps to their goal.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

v Love group activities and cooperative work

v Prefer playing with peers of the same gender

v Like to talk and explain ideas

v Good sense of humor

v Adjust well to change; bounce back quickly from mistakes or disappointments

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

v Industrious, impatient, and full of ideas; often take on more than they can handle

v Listen well but may not always remember what they’ve heard

v Getting good at handwriting, handcrafts, computers and drawing

v Excited but also nervous about exploring the broader world

v May give up when things are hard but soon want to try again

v Interested in rules, logic, fairness

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

v Full of energy; play hard, work quickly, and tire easily – do better with several short play breaks than one long one

v Eyes able to focus well on objects near and far

v May have growth spurt

v Limited attention span; short exercise breaks help concentration

v Better control of eyes and hands allows cursive writing and copying from board