Common Characteristics of 10-Year Olds SOCIAL ¨Good age for clubs, team sports & whole-class activities ¨Boys & girls work well together ¨Quick to anger & quick to forgive ¨Competitive but also cooperative ¨Listen well but also enjoy talking & explaining ¨Enjoy Adult Recognition PHYSICAL ¨Muscles for jumping, running & other big movements developing ¨Need lots of outdoor play ¨Snacks & rest periods help growing body ¨Better at small muscle movement; precision tasks such as tracing & copying ¨Ready for tools such as compasses, rulers & templates COGNITIVE ¨Improved memorization skills ¨Like rules & logic ¨Improved concentration on reading & thinking for periods of time ¨Hardworking; take pride in school ¨Open to learning mediation or problem-solving skills Common Characteristics of 11-Year Olds SOCIAL ¨Moody, self-absorbed ¨Easily embarrassed; need to “save face” in front of peers ¨Sensitive about changing bodies ¨Need lots of time to talk with peers ¨Common age for cliques to begin forming ¨Like to challenge rules ¨Need adult empathy & humor to take things less seriously PHYSICAL ¨Restless & energetic ¨Need lots of food, physical activity & sleep ¨Growth spurt for many girls & some begin menstruating ¨Growing pains may cause nightly aches & daily complaints COGNITIVE ¨Abstract thinking ¨Challenge adults’ explanations ¨Prefer to learn new skills rather than review or improve previous work ¨Enjoy brain teasers & puzzles ¨Like “adult” tasks & studies (researching, interviewing, history, etc.) Common Characteristics of 12-Year Olds SOCIAL ¨Peer opinions matter more than those of teachers & parents ¨Question & argue with adults about rules; need adults to listen to their needs ¨More willing to accept guidance from adults other than teachers & parents ¨Capable of self-awareness, insight & empathy ¨Can take on more responsibility ¨Can be careless with “unimportant” things such as cleaning their rooms & keeping track of assignments PHYSICAL ¨Energetic & need lots of sleep, exercise & food ¨Boys & girls both have growth spurts ¨Girls show signs of puberty; most are menstruating COGNITIVE ¨May begin to excel in a subject area ¨Understand & enjoy sarcasm, double meanings & sophisticated jokes ¨Enthusiastic about schoolwork they see as purposeful (research projects, science experiments, drama productions) ¨Can set goals & concentrate well