New parents have studied the development charts, and they have learned their milestones by heart: smiling by 6 weeks, crawling by 8 months and first word at 1 year. For psychological development in children, parents have child development specialists Jean Piaget and James Dobson. But for physical growth and development in a middle-aged child, parents tend to rely only on grades from the schools and growth charts at the doctor's office. There might be more to the story.
Height
From ages 5 to 10, children grow a lot, often in spurts, and not according to any strict regime. The parent may find the child's statistics dancing both above and below the "normal" line on the growth chart. While doctors like to see a straight line, some fluctuation can be normal, too. A guideline on weight is that kids gain 7 lbs. per year. According to the Mayo Clinic, double a child's height at age 2 to approximate adult height. Both of those figures vary considerably with body type, heredity and nutrition.
5 Years Old
A 5-year-old child should be able to catch a large ball. They should be able to stand on one foot and hop. Their head is still large for their body, so their coordination may be relatively poor. Their ability to focus on a task is increasing. Don't get discouraged if they goof off during a soccer game or ask off-topic questions during homework, because their brains are still gathering information from many sources. They may still have bladder accidents on rare occasions.
6 Years Old
A 6-year-old should be able to dress themselves and bathe with some confidence. They've likely lost their front teeth, so pronunciation may be difficult. They are gaining a sense of reason that they didn't previously have. Their brains are starting to separate functions into different areas. This is a time of change mentally, physically and socially, so first grade can be very stressful for them.
7 and 8 Years Old
A few years later, at 7 or 8, the child can master more complex physical tasks such as dancing and basketball. They are finding close buddies at school. Seven to 8 years old is a good time to start piano lessons. Girls may be growing faster than boys and adding fat cells. The fine motor skills of girls are also better developed than that of boys.
9 and 10 Years Old
Girls and boys who are 9 and 10 years old are growing rapidly. They might have growing pains and vague pain in the joints (which is especially common in boys). The lymph system is starting to change, and the tonsils may grow. Girls might start showing interest in boys. Boys, not usually interested in girls, are likely to try to please adults (which is a respite before the hormones hit). Intellectually, you'll see them becoming more serious, and then lapsing back into childishness.
Tweens
Children who are 11 and 12 years old are looking ahead. Their bodies are just beginning to enter puberty and they may become a little self-conscious. They are identifying more with older children and beginning to leave the joys of childhood behind. It's a scary time, so they are likely to seek validation in group friendships. They are losing their molars and replacing them with their permanent teeth. The growth of their head slows down. Their reaction time is twice that of a 5-year-old child, but as they enter puberty, their new dimensions might make them clumsy. Real talents often emerge at this age.
