As children move from the preschool years into elementary school, their physical, thinking, language, social and emotional skills become more sophisticated. School-age children have a longer attention span and vocabulary, and their reading and writing skills improve dramatically as they begin to recognize words and read books aloud. School-age children enjoy being with friends and imitating the actions of friends. Their motor skills become more refined, and their reaction time becomes quicker.
Child care providers working with school-age children in out-of-school child care programs need to continue providing materials and activities that support their developing skills in all domains. The following articles provide information about the development of 6- to 8-year-olds.