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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Understanding Younger Children:
Five - Eight-Year Olds
by Anne Smith
The learner is most certainly our reason for being. It is imperative, therefore, to know about the learner, characteristics, needs and challenges. This article focuses on children who are in kindergarten through third grade. Most of these boys and girls will be between the ages of five and eight years old.
Of course, there is much diversity among any population in a particular age category. There are, however, some similarities that can be noted and some conclusions drawn about most children in this age range.
Developmental Insights: Five-Year-Olds
Five year olds are complex individuals. They are active, but can do only one thing at a time. If instructed to "help clean up the room," more than likely they will simply be frustrated and unable to accomplish much at all. If, on the other hand, a teacher requests, "Mandy, please put away the scissors," more likely than not that child will be a cooperative helper. Specific instructions are needed because the five year old can concentrate on only one command at a time. As a kindergartner once told me, "You've overloaded my circuits!" Whether or not he was parroting something he heard an adult say, I'm not sure, but the message was clear: "I cannot handle a lot of instructions all at one time."
Fives are increasingly able to use their large muscles. Gross motor movement is important and activities that involve large muscles are best suited to their bodies. They do not enjoy an abundance of paper and pencil activities, but their delight in art is to have a large, blank piece of newsprint on which to create their own design. It is difficult, and sometimes appears to be almost painful, to make them hold a pencil and call upon finite muscles to be finely controlled. Five year olds need ample room for activities - they enjoy space and use it creatively. They enjoy using their senses, but listening and observing are sometimes difficult to master. Most would rather be handling material as an active participant rather than being a passive observer.
Fives have a limited vocabulary but learn quickly. It is not necessary to "talk down" to this age child. Usually a brief explanation of meaning for a new word is all that is necessary for the word to be learned. Repetition helps solidify newly learned material. Children this age enjoy repeated verses and familiar stories. They pride themselves in saying, ``I know that" and helping the teacher complete a verse or put the ending to the story. Five year olds have a short attention span, and tend to believe everything they hear especially when said by someone older. They usually do not, therefore, understand symbolism and get confused with sarcasm that an adult might think is funny.
Six-Year-Olds
Six-year-olds tend to be excitable and compulsive, full of energy and boisterous at play. Many like to roughhouse, yet are still learning to control their body and often appear to even be clumsy. Six year olds will often be verbally aggressive, often using harsh words in a moment of anger or frustration. Many are impulsive and volatile - one minute a situation is disastrous and the next minute everything is under control. It is important for these children to know what is expected, because consistency helps them feel secure. Their assertiveness can lead them to volunteer to do things they know nothing about. Allowing them to test their abilities within safe limits helps them gain competency and skill.
Many six year olds work in spurts, appearing to be interested in an activity only to drop by the sideline after a few minutes. Activities that are completed in one session usually work best and are most popular. Six year olds seem to be dawdlers, but often want to win and be first and do well. Learning to share is still a task for this age. They enjoy board games with manipulative parts, so games with spinners and pawns that move around the board are of special interest.
Many six year olds are full of answers, responding out of their own experience and tending to be "know-it-alls." If they have no experience that relates to the subject, they may make up a response that seems to be truth. Reality and fiction often get all mixed up. Six year olds usually enjoy helping younger children for short periods because it gives them opportunity to share their vast knowledge and be "big people." Many are settled in school and have a positive attitude about it but may be struggling with their own self-concept. Competition is often very much present in their life - most love to excel and win.
Seven-Year-Olds
Seven year olds often tend to be worriers. Seven is a rather quiet period in the life of the child, but, although some may seem withdrawn, they are not necessarily depressed. They are sifting, sorting, figuring out information developing new mental processes. Many are thinking about all the vast experiences of life and have an increased sense of self. The worry appears to be part of the mental digestive process – seven-year-olds have learned so much so fast and this is the year to think about it all!
Where six-year-old children are sensitive, seven year olds have a heightened sensitivity to others. Partly because of media exposure, these children have been exposed to the ills of the world and this causes great concern. Allowing seven year olds to do things for people and be actively involved in appropriate ministry is much needed. These children are serious in wanting to be helpers.
Seven year olds can appear to be deaf at times. They can become so engrossed in assimilating information and making sense of the world that they really do not hear. They often want things perfect in an imperfect world. This stage of development has been called the "eraser age," referring to children who work and work until their projects are perfect. When they fall short of their expectations, their personality may become moody or even morose. Seven year olds are usually industrious, but when totally frustrated or if expectations are too high simply quit and retreat. It is vital, therefore, that seven year olds experience success more than failure. Teachers who provide this healthy environment of challenge mixed with success, will see seven year olds work diligently and flourish.
Eight-Year-Olds
Eight-year-olds experience an outward surge and actively seek new experiences. They learn a lot, including the grace of losing, which is no longer a devastating experience. At eight, losing is taken in stride as part of the way things are. Eight year olds can evaluate and make conscious decisions. They love to barter and bargain, and can assess the value and worth of things in a more mature manner, have an interest in money and hat it can buy, and can learn to wait for some things.
Many eight-year-olds like to challenge themselves, and have begun to develop self-esteem, but can still be sensitive to criticism. At eight there is also a noticeable separation of sexes, with most children preferring to play with others of the same sex. Competition between the sexes is also heightened, so it may not be wise to divide for games boys against girls, which tends to add to the already present animosity.
Eight-year-olds, for the most part, collect things. Hobbies reach a new, interest level, and displays, dioramas, interest in other peoples and other cultures are especially exciting.
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