Category: Ages and Stages
Age range: ages 6-9

During the elementary school years there are remarkable shifts and gains in a child’s capacities in the areas of social, emotional and intellectual functioning. Children during these years are active learners and acquire an impressive array of skills. While the role of the family remains strong, school and friendships become important influences on the social and emotional development of children in this age group. This series focuses on this period of transition and growth, providing insight for parents into the world of their elementary school aged child.

Competition and Cooperation consists of 4 sessions:

1. Understanding Elementary School-Aged Children: Developmental Milestones
2. Your Child at School: Easing Tensions and Building Self-Esteem and Confidence
3. Getting Along and Making Friends
4. Your Child at Home: Setting Limits and Encouraging Responsibility

Note: This 4 part series can also be scheduled as a 2 or 3 session series. Each session can also be scheduled as an individual workshop.        

1. Understanding Elementary School Aged Children: Developmental Milestones

The challenge for parents of school aged children is to learn how and when to monitor, guide and support their children who are beginning the gradual process of separating from home. This session helps parents understand the changes that begin during these years and gives strategies for parents to encourage their children’s efforts toward greater mastery of skills, expanded peer relationships and increased independence. The session provides a broad overview of the developmental milestones that occur during school age and relates these milestones to children’s behaviors at home, at school and with peers.

2. Your Child at School: Easing Tensions and Building Self-Esteem and Confidence

One of the hallmarks of middle childhood is beginning “real” school and becoming involved in all of the social and academic challenges that come with this new territory. Research on children’s school experience clearly shows that the building blocks for school success begin at home and that parents are key players in facilitating children’s sense of competence and encouraging those values and habits that enable children to feel excited about learning. This session offers strategies for parents on getting involved in their children’s education, encouraging success at school, both academically and socially, and easing difficulties that may arise, such as with helping children be successful with homework.

3. Getting Along and Making Friends

During middle childhood, relationships with peers begin to play a critical role in children’s development and sense of well-being. Although the family continues to be the main source of support and security for children in middle childhood, peers begin to take on an ever-increasing place of importance. Many issues arise for children as they try to negotiate friendships and become part of their peer group. Peer rejection, social isolation, teasing, peer pressure, aggression, and loneliness are just a few of the challenges with which children struggle. This session helps parents provide the support and guidance their children need to negotiate their increasingly complex social relationships. Listening skills and problem solving strategies will be shared and practiced.

4. Your Child at Home: Setting Limits and Encouraging Responsibility

Building responsibility is a value almost all parents share for their children. Setting limits and encouraging responsible behavior go hand in hand and begin at home. Although school age is, in many ways, an ideal time to encourage children’s sense of independence and responsibility, parents often feel frustrated in their efforts to enlist children’s cooperation. This session explores how parents can effectively set limits for children at this age. Strategies for parents to include children in problem solving and negotiating solutions are also shared and practiced.