Ages & Stages: 5 to 7 year olds

General Characteristics

• Eager to learn, easily fatigued, short periods of interest.
• Learn best when they are active while learning.
• Self-assertive, boastful, less cooperative, more competitive.

Physical Characteristics

• Are very active and need frequent breaks from tasks. They like to do things that are fun and involve use of energy.
• Need rest periods.
• Large muscles are well developed. Activities involving small muscles are difficult (i.e., working on models with small pieces).
• May tend to be accident prone.

Social Characteristics

• Like organized games and are very concerned about following rules.
• Can be very competitive. May cheat at games.
• Are very imaginative and involved in fantasy playing.
• Are self-assertive, aggressive, want to be first, less cooperative than at five, and boastful.
• Learn best through active participation.

Emotional Characteristics

• Are alert to feelings of others, but are unaware of how their own actions affect others.
• Are very sensitive to praise and recognition. Feelings are easily hurt.
• Inconsistent in level of maturity evidenced; regress when tired, often less mature at home than with outsiders.

Mental Characteristics

• Are very eager to learn.
• Like to talk.
• Their idea of fairness becomes a big issue.
• Have difficulty making decisions.

Developmental Tasks

• Sex role identification.
• Early moral development.
• Concrete operations - the child begins to experience the predictability of physical events.

Suggested Volunteer Strategies

• Be patient, encouraging and flexible.
• Give supervision with a minimum amount of interference.
• Give praise, opportunities for successful completion, and suggestions on acceptable behavior.

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