School Age Development
Your child is developing socially, mentally, physically and emotionally. Everyday, they're learning habits that have the potential to stay with them throughout their life.
One of the biggest changes for school age children is puberty. You may want to talk with your son about adolescence and boys puberty since male puberty can start as early as age 10. Girls can also start puberty quite young, and may get their first period, known as menarche as young as 9-years-old. In fact, recent studies have found a link between increasing rates of early puberty in girls and overweight. So don't wait to have that talk about the birds and the bees. While you're at it, you may want to discuss acne, a rather horrifying thought for most youths entering adolescence.
And once puberty hits, your child will start growing rapidly. Giving kids a physical outlet can help them build strong bones and muscles and build strong social relationships. But if your child seems to be a bit slow on starting that growth spurt, don't worry. Being Short helps explain just how normal a "late bloomer" can be.
Another big development milestone for school age children is being allowed to stay home alone. While it can be exciting, it can also be a scary step for both you and your child. Staying Home Alone offers some great guidelines to help everyone feel more comfortable.
