At age 7, your little one is growing into an independent little being. They are starting to like the taste of freedom as they gain more independence from you. They love showing you how old they've gotten and doing things that might be just a little more dangerous for comfort, but during those moments, don't panic and keep an eye out for them. Along with their desire to be reckless every once in a while, their desire to be liked by their peers continues to grow. They are better at cooperating with others, though their interactions are still gender segregated. Boys will continue playing with boys, and girls will play with girls. 

As your little ones are growing into their own individual being, they are starting to figure out what they like and what they don't like. As parents, you should let them have some say in what extracurriculars they would like to join or even what toys they would like to play with. Try not to limit them to stereotypical activities for their gender, as it will only reinforce the stereotypes build up for their gender, which can negatively impact their self-esteem. 

Lying, cheating, and stealing are expected somewhat at this age, as these young kids are still attempting to figure out where they fit and what is acceptable, so make sure you address what acceptable behavior is with them. 

Ways Parents Can Help

• support your child's self-esteem by encouraging them to have fun and express themselves 

• don't be afraid to talk to your kids about tough topics such as peer pressure, racism, and so forth. When tackling such heavy topics make sure you break it down into ways that your little ones can understand. 

• though it is okay for your little one to enjoy some time on electronic devices, make sure you set some time limits to ensure that they still get enough physical play time and sleep

• Measure his performance against others

• Feel more comfortable spending time at other places without you, such as a relative’s or friends’ house

• Continue to develop her social skills by playing with other children in a variety of situations

• Be able to communicate with others without your help

• Possibly want to be around you more at age 5 than at age 4. By age 8, he will probably prefer being around his peers.

• Start to feel sensitive about how other children feel about him

By the time your kid reaches age 6, if you notice these types of behavior, consider paying more attention to what efforts are going into helping the kid develop social-emotionally. If the extent of their behaviors worries you, you can always talk to your doctor, a health professional, or a psychologist.

• He is not interested in playing with other children 
• She is not able to share or take turns with other children 
• He is extremely "rigid" about routines and becomes extremely upset when things are changed 
• She has extreme difficulty separating from you 
• He is too passive or fearful and does not want to try things other children his age are doing 
• She has extreme fears that interfere with daily activities