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Age 5
Lying - fairly common behavior in preschoolers.
Whining
Baby Talk
Defiance
Aggression -
Age 6
Follows directions well
Strives to be perfect
Peer pressure begins -
Age 7
Enjoys being with their friends
Empathy develops further
Ability to solve conflicts with others is improving -
Age 8
Contribute more to the family decision-making and routines.
Expressing more interest in making their own decisions.
Choirs and a sense of responsibility. -
Age 9
Wants to have the privileges that come with being a teenager but not old enough.
A desire to have more responsibility in life.
Good understanding of social norms. -
Age 10
Experiencing changes brought on by puberty.
Settling into eating habits that have been developing since their younger years.
Typically take pride in the work they do around the house and at school. -
Age 11
Testing the rules and boundaries is common.
Real world fears such as war, crime, kidnapping can cause anxiety.
Can argue logically. -
Age 12
Need for sleep increases.
Always hungry.
Identifies their personal strengths and weaknesses. -
Age 13
Reasoning skills improve.
Can start to make more educated decisions.
Thinks in terms of the present instead of considering the past and future. -
Age 14
Begins to independently acknowledge right from wrong.
Ability to express thoughts and emotions through talking improves.
Embarrassed to be around their parents. -
Age 15
Do not like parents to interfere with their independence.
May experience sadness or depression.
Very concerned with their physical appearance. -
Age 16
Usually has many friends, with one or two best friends.
Dating and romantic relationships are common.
Better able to resolve conflicts peacefully. -
Age 17
Interest in choosing a future career.
Needs guidance to plan future life decisions.
Has a good sense of right and wrong. -
Age 18
Tends to make impulsive decisions.
Willingness to listen to another person’s point of view .
May have issues with handling the stress of life changes.
