It's time for responsibility and independence
By 9 years of age, your child is no doubt a lot more taller and a tad heavier than their previous year... And their growing independence away from the family is probably a lot more obvious now.
While they still seek a sense of security from you as their parents, they'll be acting much more on their own initiative and choosing their own peers now. Which means, peer pressure at this age can be very influential.
Because of the exposure to peer pressure, it's imperative that parents are aware of and discuss potential hazards with their 9 year olds. You see, children who have healthy self-esteem - which parents can do a LOT to help build and their child's values and responsibilities - are more like to resist influences from other kids their age.
Here's what else you can expect from your 9 year old, and what you can do to help.
Physical Milestones
At 9 years, you'll probably notice that physical growth begins to differ between boys and girls, as the first stirrings of puberty kick in. If you have a girl, you'll find that she'll experience a spurt in height sooner, and so would now be taller and heavier than boys of the same age.
Here's what else you can expect on the physical front:
Language Milestones
By now, your child's language and speech will be almost at adult level, and they'll be able to understand and use more complex vocabulary and sentence structures.
Here's what else you can expect to see:
Cognitive Milestones
In terms of cognitive development, you may find that your 9 year old is now thinking a lot more independently, able to plan ahead better, think critically and have improved decision-making and organisational skills.
Here's what else they may be doing:
Emotional and Social Milestones
By 9, children are more emotionally mature and are able to handle their frustrations and deal with conflicts. Independence and relationships outside of the home are hugely important right now, but that doesn't mean they don't need your support.
Here's how your child will be developing emotionally and socially by age 9:
