8 Years: Solving Problems on Their Own

Your child is displaying more highly developed thinking skills, enjoying the opportunity to solve problems independently and creatively, and concentrating on tasks for longer periods of time. By the end of third grade, your child will be writing clear sentences on a wide range of topics from an expanded vocabulary.

At This Stage, Your Child May Be

• Learning to cooperate in group settings and group games
• Enjoying group activities and group games that focus on a common interest
• Growing in confidence, which leads to taking more risks
• Learning to accept responsibility for their actions
• Seeking independence but still relying on adults for assistance
• Becoming curious as to how things work and how they are made
• Increasing in body strength through physical activities
• Reading stories and poems aloud fluently, without pausing to figure out what each word means
• Showing the ability to read closely to find main ideas and supporting details in a story
• Reading for pleasure and choosing books based on personal preference
• Beginning to spell correctly and consulting dictionaries to clarify meanings of words
• Writing stories that establish a situation and including details and clear sequences of events
• Solving word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Understanding fractions
• Interacting with others and sharing viewpoints on a variety of topics

Safety First! Key Guidelines for Your 8-Year-Old

At this point, your child is taking off on their own, so you need to strongly emphasize safety and establish parameters. Here are some vital rules that will keep your child safe and lead to good safety habits:

• Teach your child to watch out for traffic and how to be safe when walking to school and riding a bike.
• Your child must sit on a booster seat in the car until they reach a height of 4 feet, 9 inches, and weigh at least 80 pounds. The safest place for all children is the backseat.
• Make sure your child understands water safety and knows how to swim. Always supervise them when they’re swimming or playing near water.
• Talk to your child about how to ask for help when they need it, and teach your child how to dial 911.
• Supervise your child when they are involved in risky activities such as climbing.
• Teach your child to always wear all of the appropriate safety equipment made for each sport.

Things You Can Do Every Day to Help Your Child Develop

At home, you can play an important role in setting expectations and helping your child meet them. Here are some activities and suggestions to help your child maintain a strong and steady development:

• Set aside quiet time to read, and make reading for fun a part of your child’s daily routine.
• Encourage your child to join school and community groups, such as a sports team, or to take advantage of volunteer opportunities.
• Talk to your child about peer pressure, and discuss any concerns about friends and their behavior.
• Raise awareness about money by teaching your child about the importance of saving toward a goal.
• Encourage your child to print out a photo, paste it on paper and write a story about it.
• Involve your child in “real-life” occasions when multiplication is needed. Example: If you make a veterinarian appointment for your dog in exactly three weeks, ask your child how many days that will be.
• Help your child set their own achievable goals, which will help them develop pride and become more independent in completing household tasks and schoolwork.
• Talk with them about respecting and helping others, thereby developing a sense of empathy and understanding.
• Encourage your child to think about possible consequences before acting.
• Always praise your child for good behavior, and always recognize their accomplishments.

School Success

To see what to expect in third grade and to learn how you can support your child’s school success, visit PTA.org.