10 year old

Your not-so-little child is now on the cusp of adolescence

At 10 years old, the changes of puberty are now starting to become apparent, especially for girls - and your child is no doubt become increasingly more engaged in physical skills and a lot more mature in the way they think and reason.

Of course, they still need parental support - so don't think they can get by without a cuddle and support from their mum and dad.

10 year old development stages by EWmums

Your child will begin to value and respect their parents' opinions, but don't be alarmed if they begin to show irritation at your parent or adult-imposed restrictions.

Here's what else your 10 year old will no doubt be doing:

Physical Milestones

When it comes to their physical milestones, you'll no doubt find that they have a keen interest in activities that require coordinated physical skills - this might include tennis, or swimming or dancing, for example - and activities like this help to build strength, endurance, dexterity, vision and balance.

Your mini-me might also be doing the following...

Cross the street alone

Undertake simple journeys unaccompanied

Increased hand control means more legible and even handwriting

More detailed art work, and they may enjoy drawing, painting or sewing

Learn a musical instrument with ease

Will lose round 4 baby teeth each year

Girls may show signs of breast buds

Girls may also begin to menstruate

Language Milestones

By this age, most children have adult language skills and are able to hold prolonged conversations with both other kids and adults outside of the family. In terms of literacy and language, you'll no doubt see them develop leaps and bounds as their schooling aids their development.

Here's what else you can expect on the language side of things:

Write letters or talk on the telephone

Follow complex sentences in written material and read longer books

Follow chapters in books, and pick up where they left off

Enjoy magazines and non-fiction topics of interest to them

Learned cursive handwriting

Can compose smple stories

Cognitive Milestones

Your little one is in the last years of their primary education, and will be heading off to big school in just a year or two! While it might be a daunting thought as a parent, with all of the developments in their cognitive skills, we're sure your child are just about ready to learn much more!

Here's what you can expect from your child in terms of thinking and reasoning at the age of 10:

Know the complete date (week day, month, year)

Can name the months in order without difficulty

Read and understand complex paragraphs and sentences

Reading books with chapters

They're skilled in addition and subtraction, and building skills in multiplication, division and fractions

Have learned to write in cursive

Can write simple stories

Emotional and Social Milestones

Friends and their social circle continue to be a huge part of your child's life, and you'll no doubt be surprised to see them engaging and doing the following by age 10:

Enjoy being with their friends

Continue to enjoy team and group activities

May tease or show off, or at silly towards the opposite sex for attention

Like and listen to their parents

But may show irritation with or lack of respect for adults in charge

Advice for Parents

With puberty on the horizon, and your child gaining more and more experience in the world, we're sure you may face some attitude from your child from time to time. Your tween is being influenced at home, at school and out in their social circles, and it's natural for them to feel compelled to start going their own way.

But this is not the time to be your child's friends, and you'll need to come up with some new rules as they begin to exercise their growing independence as they near their teenage and high school years.

Start by figuring out what's important to you; right and wrong, honesty and grades for example, and let go of stuff that doesn't matter in the long run... Like wearing clean socks, or having a tidy bedroom. Make it clear what your 'nuclear button' is; you might put up with eye rolling or sighing, but a raised voice or walking away won't be tolerated.

When it comes to punishment, you may have to bring out the big guns. As toddlers, positive reinforcement did the trick nicely, but now they're older, you might find other ways to discipline them; remove their Xbox, their tablets, their PS4, their smartphone, ground them. Make sure to always follow through with it, though, or else they might begin to take advantage and you'll lose your upper hand.

To help manage your 10 year old's new-found attitude (and rudeness, sometimes), simple reciprocate respect to them, let them stew and give them space, and make sure to allocate some time in the week for just the two of you. The sooner you can get these behaviours in place at this age, the easier the coming years will be for you all.

Warning Signals

Like we always say, children develop and grow at their own pace, so don't worry too much if your child hasn't reached all of these milestones by the age of 10.

However, you should notice gradual progression as they get closer to 10 years, and if you don't - there may be possible developmental delays. If this is the case, please seek advice from your child's doctor.