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Kids start to experience lots of peer interactions and stresses in school. As a parent of two school aged children, I find that patience and listening have carried me much farther at this age than a dictatorial nature that is unbending.
Five to ten year olds are really starting to think for themselves and work through complex problems, albeit concretely. They still need structure and boundaries through rules, but they also need more freedom. Encourage your children to tell you how they feel and LISTEN. If they are hurt, do not tell them that it does not hurt. Instead honor their feelings and help them move past whatever it is that they are feeling.
For example, if your child is hurt by something that a friend has said, ask them how it made them feel and do they want advice on how to handle such a situation in the future. If not, let them be and just hold them while encouraging them to always be open and hopefully they will seek your advice as they age.
Continue to encourage your children to model your eating behaviors focusing on vegetables and fruits. Discuss the properties of food and the effects it has on your body.
This is also a great age to make a big deal about apologizing when you make a mistake. Again, this is great modeling for their growth. Help them see that we are all human and prone to error, but also prone to forgiveness and love despite our failings when they occur.
Focus on their academic growth at this age. Set in stone reading habits at night. My children are expected to read every day for 45 minutes, regardless of events. They know to get it done before friends arrive or things occur.
Grow with them,
Dr. M
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