YMTP²
Developmental Considerations

Younger Children PK-2nd Grade  

Physical
• Fine motor not well developed
• Learn through large muscle activity
• Energetic and active

Social Emotional
• Easily redirected
• Learn social skills through role play
• May begin to become oppositional
• Need consistent routines
• Extreme criticism can be traumatic

Cognitive
• Short attention spans
• Learn independence and responsibility through carefully taught routines • Very curious
• Enjoy learning through games, songs

 

Older Children 6th – 8th Grade   

Physical  
• Very energetic 
• Stays up late, wants to sleep late 
• Frequent growth spurts 
• Puberty- affecting body and emotional state 

 Social Emotional 
• Adult personality may emerge, may try on different personalities 
• Enthusiastic and spontaneous 
• Cares more about peers’ opinions than teachers’ or parents 
• Moody and sensitive 
• Feelings easily hurt 
• Increased use of sarcasm in humor 

Cognitive 
• Increasingly able to plan thoughts and work and sets short term goals 
• More able to think abstractly 
• Likes and dislikes more pronounced 
• Able to think about many sides of an issue

 

Middle-Aged Children 3rd – 5th Grade 

Physical
• Full of energy, in need of physical release through outdoor play
• Growth spurts lead to awkwardness in coordination
• Restless, can’t sit still long

Social Emotional
• Likes socializing during individual and group work
• Loves group activity
• Wants peer approval as much as teacher’s Impatient and easily frustrated
• Often worried or anxious
• Adjusts well to change, bounces back from mistakes or disappointments
• Critical of self and others
• Competitive
• Likes to Negotiate
• Appreciates being noticed and praised for effort

Cognitive
• Industrious but with shorter attention spans
• Enjoys responsibility
• Can handle increasingly complex tasks
• Trouble understanding abstractions
• Exploring issues of fairness and justice
• Often take on more than they can handle
• Full of ideas – likes to talk, explain, exaggerate
• Can concentrate for longer period of time

Older Children High School 

Physical  
• Body changing/ puberty affect behavior 
• Preoccupied with body image 
• May be athletically inclined or lacking coordination 
• Need at least 9 hours of sleep a night  

Social Emotional 
• Interested in social interaction and socialization 
• Self-conscious about judgement from others
• Pressure to conform 
• Romantic relationships may begin 
• Bullying and harassment online may occur 
• Intense emotions from hormone changes 
• Exert independence and challenge authority • Need structure and routine to feel safe and secure 
• Empathy develops and grows 
• Develops image of self and self-worth 

Cognitive 
• New ability to think about their own thinking: metacognition 
• Improved abstract thinking ability and vivid imagination 
• Believes their ideas are true and that adults and peers should respect them 
• Can imagine future consequences for their actions