Michigan 4-H Youth Development: 5- to 8-Year-Olds


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4-H Youth Development Michigan State University 160 Agriculture Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 USA Phone: 517-432-7575 Fax: 517-355-6748 Email: msue4h@msu.edu Disclaimer & Indicia

5- to 8-Year-Old Programs

Developmental Tasks or "Jobs" of 5- to 8-Year-Olds

5- to 8-Year-Olds

What does it mean for young people to move successfully through the school-aged years? Child development experts agree that there are certain developmental tasks or "jobs" that children should accomplish for optimal development. All of these tasks relate to the different areas in which children are developing: physical, cognitive, social and emotional. When we see that they are doing well at these tasks, we consider them to be developing successfully.

In the school-aged years between 5 and 8, children learn to:

Gather information about who they are and what they can do.
Develop a better understanding of how to get along with others.
Understand that rules are necessary to make groups work.
Act in ways that respect themselves and others.
Improve their physical abilities.
Learn to use language to share ideas and influence others.
Find new ways to get information and to solve problems.

For more information on ways to work with five- to eight-year-olds, check out What We Know About How Children Learn — Important elements to consider when developing effective activities for kids.

Source: Written by Theresa Ferrari, when she was a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Family and Child Ecology, Michigan State University.

More Things to Consider When Working With Five- to Eight-Year-Olds

Learning Materials

More information on learning materials available to support these activities can be found in the Michigan Guide to 4-H or through the MSU Bulletin Office.

Training & Events

For upcoming training and events in this area, check the 4-H Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU Extension Calendar and the 4-H Exploration Days web site.

Contact Information

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

Sheila Urban Smith, Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
USA

Phone: 517-432-7575
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: smiths20@msu.edu

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