The third of our three children recently had his eighth birthday and I was struck with the idea that all three of our children have different personalities and interests and yet when our older two kids were 8, they were a lot like their little brother is now. For example, this was the age when they really fell in love with reading, largely because of the "Harry Potter" series. And this is also the age at which friendships start to become hugely important, while at the same time a sense of independence from mom and dad emerges.
Independence
By the time children are 8 years old, they are most likely demonstrating much greater independence from family members and parents than they were a year or two before. This includes a desire to solve problems independently, too. And because 8-year-olds can concentrate for longer periods of time and have better reading skills and other developed talents, this means more time will be spent facing challenges before seeking help. The challenge for parents is to give 8-year-olds the time and space to take on some of these tasks.
Athletic Skill
By age 8, a child's experience in sports will start to define whether he is considered athletic by his peers and whether he considers himself athletic. Kids who participate in sports, either organized or just for fun, will start to emerge as noticeably more athletic and coordinated in activities such as running, throwing and catching a ball, kicking and other pursuits, as compared to their more sedentary peers. For boys especially, this demonstration of athletic skill may also have an effect on the social hierarchy of their group.
Friendships
Friendships become more important around this time, with kids moving beyond the simple concept of having someone to play with to having someone with whom to share feelings and ideas. The desire for sleepovers and the ability to stay overnight at a friend's house without the insecurity of being away from home starts to develop around age 8. Kids this age are also developing strong skills to help them express their feelings and ideas, too.
Intellectual Development
In the classroom, 8-year-olds make significant strides when it comes to reading and writing skills. Among the milestones most 8-year-olds reach in school are wanting to know more about the "why" and "how" behind facts and stories; an increased willingness to share opinions; added maturity regarding reading and the development of different strategies for reading fiction and nonfiction; and an acceptance and willingness to proofread his writing and re-write sections if needed.
