A 10-year-old child is hungry to learn, eager to please and still hangs out with friends of the same gender, although he is becoming preoccupied with the opposite sex, explains the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. A 10-year-old elementary school student is making considerable cognitive advances as she looks ahead to middle school and beyond.
Considerations
A 10-year-old can usually follow five commands or instructions in a row. Should one slip his mind, he's unlikely to ask for assistance for fear of being made fun of, explains MedlinePlus, a website published the National Institutes of Health. By age 10 a child should be able concentrate on a task for about an hour before her focus wanes.
Ten-year-olds take pride in doing things well and may fret about their abilities. Winning the approval of those he regards as significant is very important to a 10-year-old.
Interactions
Friendships are a top priority to a 10-year-old. Exploring relationships helps a child on the cusp of adolescence discover her likes, dislikes, interests and perhaps who she wants to be, explains Healthy Children, a website published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Fitting in is extremely important to a 10-year-old, which can make him eager to yield to peer pressure.
Friendships enhance communications skills and teach children how to understand and cope with their feelings and the feelings of those closest to them. Spending less time at home and more time with friends also instills a sense of independence in a 10-year-old.
Right and Wrong
Ten-year-olds are more able to take care of themselves and may not always need close adult supervision. Ten-year-old's understand rules and why they are necessary but may not fully grasp the difference between right and wrong.
School-age kids may test the waters by bending or breaking the rules. Some 10-year-olds may cheat, lie or steal. Such matters should be dealt with privately with appropriate punishment so as not to embarrass the child in front of his peers, recommends MedlinePlus.
Outlook
Hearing or language problems may cause language delays in school-aged children. A child who has a hard time communicating may become frustrated and throw temper tantrums or act out aggressively. Seek out an evaluation if you are concerned about your 10-year-old's cognitive progress.
