This is the stage for a child where he starts developing his self confidence since the kid is on his second grade as an elementary student. Going to school at this stage becomes more exciting and fun. He is able to intermingle with other people at a societal level. Parents at this stage of a child’s life should be more understanding and supportive.

The eighth year of a child’s life is often called as the “half-way up the stairs” since it is at this stage the child is growing slowly and steadily. They love to be involved in the household chores that indirectly help him in learning to organize things and manage his own time.

Physical Development

• An eight year old becomes more aggressive and has a good stamina to play and loves to involve himself in activities such as jumping, running, rhythmic exercises such as dancing, running, bicycling, etc.
• An eight year old at this age can throw, catch, kick and perform lot more things involving physical activity. This skill prepares the child to be athletic and take part in team sports such as baseball, basketball, dance or gymnastics in the future. By being too active will make them choose what sports to get involved with.

• Independence at this age becomes more obvious and it shows in them by knowing how to prepare their food and taking a bath without supervision from a parent. Since he becomes a little mature at the age of eight, he is now comfortable preparing his own breakfast and packing his own lunch.
• He is now able to make choices over which food to eat for lunch at school and has a taste in choosing what clothes to wear during non- uniform days at school. This stage helps a child to be responsible and independent and helps him to recognize some tasks around the house which he can only do at his age.

Emotional and Social development

• At this time, kids enjoy developing their abilities and learning from interacting with other kids of their age. Allowing them to join extracurricular participation will perfectly develop his social skills. Involving them into social association will help them develop their potential to become who and what they want to be,
• Needs a strong attachment for love, nurturing and understanding of a mother but sometimes tends to become bossy and selfish and oftentimes can be more helpful, cheerful and pleasant but in a sudden will also have a quick change in their emotion and become overly sensitive and dramatic and at times too impatient.
• Easily makes friends with peers of their age and of the same sex and has developed the inclination of collecting money.

Language and Thinking Development

• Can communicate with adults well and enjoys conversing with them by telling about their escapades.
• The child enjoys reading at this time and finds it more enjoyable to sit and read wonderful stories. At this age he can point out what subject in school he is good at and is able to show his preference to it. They even stand out from that favorite subject and even earn good grades.

Artistic Skills and Interest

• Children in the age of eight want to explore new things every day like becoming a part of a group. This helps them to mold their mental capacity and physical whim.  Being good at the arts and other extra activities will help children at this age enhance their potentialities. If in this case parents help their child with their talents, they will become successful in the future. Involving in a stage play will help a child participate more and be interested in role playing and will later help them decide what they want in life.
• Most children differ from each other, some are introverts and some are extroverts, so leisure time for these kinds of children may vary. A parent should know what fun activity suit their child’s preferences. They usually love to play toys that are almost real and exchanging it with a partner or a playmate. Most of them will enjoy handcrafting that involves scissors and paper cutting.

Growth and Nutrition for an eight year old

• An eight year old child has a better taste in nutrition; as a parent try reducing limiting him from consuming food which is rich in fat or low in nutrients such as chocolates or aerated drinks. He should be given more balanced food such as fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals and other grain products; low fat dairy products; lean meats and foods prepared with little or no fat.
• Encourage an eight year old child to eat three meals a day, then eat snacks that are nutrition packed that are riched in carbohydrates since an eight year old child involves more of his physical  stamina.
• Make sure that an eight year old child gets adequate sleep from around 8-9 p.m.
• The eighth year of a child’s existence in the world offers him more challenges in going outside the family for new ideas and thoughts. Often a child values the opinion of friends because it is at this stage where he is also longing for belongingness among his peers. A peer group begins to be so important to him and he will often have a best friend which is a crucial milestone in a child’s development.
• Parents should keep their lines of communication open by talking out to their children and offering them reasonable explanations and continuing to love them and giving them moral support.

Calculate Your Kids Weight ?