Case Study

8 Year Old Child

Juan Diaz

EDU 220
 Abstract
Physical Development: Psychosocial/Social Development:
—Physical health
—Stage 4: Industry v. Inferiority

—Muscle Coordination
—Encouragement, brings creativity and
—Physical activity
industry

—Energy release
—Discouragement brings Inferiority

—Independence

Emotional Development:
—Less self-centered

—Complex emotions (Identified)

—self recrimination

—Difficulty adjusting to failure

Moral/Character/Philosophical
—Sensitive to criticism
Development:
—Pre-conventional morality

Cognitive/Intellectual Development: —Understanding of goodness and

—Concrete Operational Stage
badness

—Thinking may be more logical

—Moral reasoning expands

—Social Interactions

—Construction of Hierarchical
relationships”

 Typical Physical Behavior

(8 years old)
• “Physical health is usually good with fewer illnesses and reported aches and
pains.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “Large muscle coordination has become a "joy" with the child doing tricks on the
bike, gym specialties like hand springs, flips, etc. and outdoor activities are usually
seen as fascinating and alluring.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “Fine motor skills may also vary widely. These skills can affect a child's ability to
write neatly, dress accordingly, and preform certain chores, such as making beds or
doing dishes”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)
 Typical physical
developmental level according to Snowman
( 8 years old)
• Extremely active: “Energy is released in the form of nervous habit”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg.84 )

• Rest periods: “Fatigue easily due to physical/mental exertion”

(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 84)

• “Muscle control is superior to fine coordination” (Particularly in boys)

(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 84)

• “Difficulty focusing on small print or objects”

(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 84)

• Extreme in physical activities: “Underestimate danger, thus accident rate is at a peak

(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 84)
 Physical Development Observation
(8 Years old)
Successful Development Milestones met:
• 8-year-old child, enjoys outdoor activities that exhibit strong physical traits, such
as swimming, tag, and running.

• Child has a difficult time sitting quietly without moving. He tends to grab an
object near by and pretend it’s an action figure.

• Child has scabs on his knees and elbows, due to strong physical activity.
Unsuccessful Development Milestones:
• Child does not take long physical breaks from play, even when he’s tired.
• Child tends to complain of stomach pain, or headaches often.
Physical Development Recommendations
(8 years old)
• “Parents should encourage child to take break periods often: “Rest
periods: “Fatigue easily due to physical/mental exertion”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 84)
• “By age 9, a child should be able to focus for an hour”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017

• “Frequent physical complaints (such as sore throats, tummy aches, or

arm or leg pain) may simply be due to child’s increased body
awareness”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017
 Typical Emotional Behavior
(8 years old)
• “Eight-year-olds can learn to identify more complex emotions and talk about how their
feelings can affect their behavior"
(PBS, 2019)

• “Continue to build children's emotional vocabulary by introducing more complex, nuanced emotions
such as frustration, loneliness, grief, jealousy, anticipation, wonder, gratitude, hope and peace. “
(PBS, 2019)

• “When the child, in expansive moods, takes on too much there is often self recrimination. In the
new-found ability to see self as others might, there is a tendency to overdramatize failure.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “The child has often reached an emotional plateau with fewer fears, and less focus on the macabre or
fantasy and fantastic with more centering on reality and truth.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)
 Typical Emotional Behavior of an 8 year old
child: According to Snowman

• “Sensitive to criticism and ridicule: Difficulty adjusting to failure”

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 86)

• “Eager to please”: Teachers, parents and enjoy taking on new responsibilities

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 86)

• “Sensitive to the feelings of others”

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 86)

 Emotional Observation of
(8 years old)
Successful Development Milestones met:
• Child was able to sympathize with the feelings of others in an unfamiliar setting. This
happened after the child noticed a homeless man, near a gas station.

• Child is able to express his emotions without hesitation. He was upset when he
misplaced one of his toys, and he explained how he felt to his mother clearly, and
appropriately.

• Child became upset when those around him made fun of his mishaps. When he
pronounced a word wrong, or when he fell off his scooter.

Unsuccesful Development Milestone:

• Child focuses on imaginary fantasy creatures, from films and televisions way too
often, and thus is afraid of the dark.
 Emotional
Development Recommendations
• “Teach your child to value himself and give him strategies to make things right and
forgive himself. “
(Child Development Institute, 2015)

• “Your child will still seek your support when he’s feeling emotional, but he’ll be more
cautious and less likely to want to sit on your lap for a cuddle. “
(Child Development Institute, 2015)

• “Children may take part in certain behaviors to be part of "the group." Talking about
these behaviors with your child will allow the child to feel accepted in the group,
without crossing the boundaries of the family's behavior standards.”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• “It is important for the child to learn how to deal with failure or frustration
without losing self-esteem.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)
 Typical Cognitive/Intellectual Behavior
(8 Years old)
• “The child is often fascinated with real world animals, stars, science in general.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “Thinking may be more logical”

(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “The child is firmly able to use concrete operations. Ability to take successive
transformations into account and still remain aware of facts and ideas, even when
making "detours."
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• ‘His numeracy skills are at the point where he can readily identify patterns, translate
simple word problems into number sentences, and use a variety of strategies to solve
problems with three digits or less.’
(Child Development Institute, 2015)
 Typical Cognitive/Intellectual Development Level:
According to Piaget / Vygotsky

Piaget Vygotsky
Stage: Concrete Operational

“Capable of operations but solves problems by “Through others we become ourselves”

generalizing from concrete experience”

• “Importance of social interactions to
(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 40 )
cognitive process”

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg.

52)

Scheme: Start developing: “Greater logical-based

understanding”

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg.42 )

• Social interaction = Primary source of

cognitive development

Class Inclusion: “Construction of Hierarchical (Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg.
relationships”
52)

(Snowman, J. &  McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 42)

 Cognitive/Intellectual Development Observation

(8 Years Old)

Successful Development Milestones met:

• The child I observed is bilingual. He is able to speak English, and Spanish, while being logically
aware of the significance of this feat.

• Child is fascinated by the function of electronic objection in his house hold. On multiple occasions I
witnessed the child, unscrew the back face of his Nintendo Switch video game system, to see its
functionality.

• Child is able to save, and organize his money accordingly, to the level of value.
Unsuccessful Development Milestones:
• The Childs ideas are not always grounded in reality. He believes in ghost and other mythical creatures.
 Cognitive/Intellectual
Development Recommendations

• “Encourage kids to read books, play games that require attention to detail”
(PBS, 2019)

• Teach child self control by teaching them to “Change the situation to reduce
temptation”
(PBS, 2019)

• “Children who are behind seem to be ready to consolidate and relearn tasks missed.
Review as exercises in assimilation and accommodation will usually be appreciated.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)
 Typical Psychosocial/Social Behavior
(8 Years Old)
• “Being less centered in the self, the child is ready for a real relationship with someone
other than family members-usually a "best friend.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “The relationship with at least one parent tends to be strong with the child demanding
to be personally valued and understood and tends to express a need for closeness. "
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “There is a tendency for many children this age to experience a real understanding of
envy, and possessiveness.”
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• “Child is more of a team player now even while he struggles with being a good
loser.”
(Child Development Institute, 2015)
 Typical Psychosocial/Social Behavior
According to Erickson (8 years old)

Stage 4: Industry v. Inferiority

• Children are, “Dominated by intellectual curiosity and performance”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 29 )

• Industry is developed when children are, “encouraged to create things and are praised for trying”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 29 )

• “If children are unsuccessful or treated as bothersome (Not encouraged), they feel inferior”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 29)
 Psychosocial/Social
Development Observation (8 Years old)
Successful Development Milestones met:
• The child shows social closeness, and responsibility, when he is asked to watch his baby
niece. He models the behavior after his older brother and father, who babysit him.
• The child enjoys creating abstract art work, with the usage of different mediums. He
created a painting using, paints, strings, coins, and cardboard.
• The child is willing to help. He showcased this by helping the mother bring in the
groceries from the car. (Team player)

Unsuccessful Development Milestones:

• The child tends to be discouraged when he loses. This happened while he was playing checkers
with his older brother, and while having a race with a neighboring child.
• The child does not like to share his video games with other children
 Psychosocial/Social
Development Recommendations

• Encourage children to participate in constructive activities such as sports, clubs, arts, music, and
scouts.
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• School-age children should participate in family chores, such as setting the table and cleaning up.
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• Encourage a child's “Kind impulses”

(PBS, 2019)
 Typical Moral/Character/Philosophical Behavior
(8 Years old)
• There is typically, a real understanding of goodness and badness, right and wrong.
(Ellsworth, 1998)

• This is generally a time when parents are noted for pronouncements of good parenting in
light of the behavior and compliance as well as the good nature of the child in this stage.
(Ellsworth, 1998)  

• Moral reasoning is very black and white, with the focus primarily on self...the reason to
avoid doing wrong is to avoid being punished or viewed as bad.
(Ellsworth, 1998)
 Typical Moral/Character/Philosophical Level
According to Kohlberg (8 Years Old)

• Level 1: Pre-conventional morality (Children up to the age of 9)

• Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience orientation: “Physical consequences of an
action determine goodness or badness”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 61 )

• Stage 2: Instrumental relativist orientation: An action is judged to be right if it

is instrumental in satisfying ones own needs or involves an even exchange”
(Snowman, J. & McCown, R., 2015, Pg. 61 )
 Moral/Character/Philosophical
Development Observation (8 years old)
Successful Development Milestones met:
• The 8-year-old child is able to determine the difference between police (Good guys), and criminals
(Bad guys), in black and white terms
• I observed the child, clean up after himself because he know his mother would be upset if he did
not.
• The child is aware that adults hold more authoritative power. He knows that adults are wiser than
children.
• Child is aware that some words (curse words), are not to be said.

Unsuccessful Development Milestones:

• The child tends to lie to his mother, when he forgets to complete a chore, such as feeding the dog.
• Similarly the child tends to abandon responsibility. He was instructed to take out the garage for a
week, and he would ignore the duty, in order to play with friends.
 Moral/Character/Philosophical
Development Recommendations

• “Discuss these issues openly with your children to share concerns or correct
misconceptions.”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• “Parents should deal with these behaviors (Lying, cheating, and stealing), in private with
their child (so that the child's friends don't tease them).”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• “Parents should show forgiveness, and punish in a way that is related to the behavior.”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017)

• “Teach children to stick to something (Activity), until they succeed. It shows them
“Perseverance and resilience, and it gives the strength to try, try again”
(PBS, 2019)
 References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Child development.

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/facts.html

Child Development Institute (2015). The ages and stages of child development.

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/#.WR3Id_QrLrc

Ellsworth, J. (1998). Online lesson: PEPSI as a screening tool.

https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jde7/ese504/class/pepsi/lesson2-1-1.html

PBS (2019) Learn & grow by age.

https://www.pbs.org/parents/learn-grow/age-3

Snowman, J. & McCown, R. (2015). Psychology applied to teaching, 14th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.