Developmental stages: seven to ten years Eileen Hayes Keeping a well-organised timetable of school, sports and club events is a big task as your child grows from seven to ten - the years when she thrives on a busy schedule.

Energy and enthusiasm

Your child aged seven onwards will be ready to get involved in organised sports and by eight will be playing as part of a team. You'll notice she still enjoys very active play and will love running around the playground or park.

Your patience may be tested as she learns her first musical instrument. It's clear your child needs plenty to do inside and outside the home and will enjoy the challenges and teamwork of clubs such as Cubs and Brownies.

At around this age, your child will tend to play more often with friends of the same sex. Your son will be playing in larger groups while your daughter at this age will tend to play in small groups or in a pair.

Your love of books and reading will spill over to your child and by age eight she'll be reading and able to understand the story. You might catch her reading stories to a younger brother or sister and be warmed by the thought of this caring bond.

Doing simple homework may become a part of your family routine. Finding a quiet space for your child to concentrate on homework will be helpful, as will spending time going over it together.

As your child's tenth birthday approaches, you could be trying to keep up with skills in long division and multiplication and enjoying the creativity of short stories presented for your approval.

Mornings spent getting ready for school should be smoother now, as she can get washed and dressed as well as eat without making a mess. By ten years of age your child should be independent enough to go on an organised camp. Sleepovers at friends may be a favourite weekend treat at this age.

By about eight or nine years of age she'll no longer believe in Father Christmas, and by nine or ten she'll have a clear idea of the difference between reality and fantasy and will be working out her own ideas of rights and wrongs.

Your child aged ten years will need about nine to ten hours sleep each night*.

This information should be used as a guide only. Children develop at different stages, but if you're concerned, contact your doctor or health professional.

* Source: Ferber, R (1985) Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems, Dorling Kindersley.

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