Living with Children: Create Safe and Creative Home

When children are awake they are nearly in constant motion. They take over the home!
They are crawling, tottering, running and also throwing, kicking, banging, hiding and pretending. They are developing their balance, gross and fine motor skills, logical thinking and imagination.
At this age, children enjoy pushing and pulling things as they move around, and prefer trying to put things together rather than making them fall apart.

At this age, children's gross motor skills are more developed. They can skip, climb, run and keep their balance.
Language develops strongly and conversations, stories and songs are exhilarating.
Role-play is important and often about daily occurrences, such as preparing food, shopping and driving.
The need for friends increases as does the ability to fantasise.

Children's imagination, logical thinking and social skills are developing fast.
They are learning to play with other children. They are learning the difference between real and make-believe.
Their role-play is more realistic and imitative. The ability to do things on their own increases their self- confidence and it is important for children to be able to use things adapted to their age group.

The ability to do things and to take part is increasingly important – "I can do it!" Children become more interested in story books and numbers. Their motor skills are put to the test and strengthened constantly, often through movement and play.
Role-play is still an important part of playing and learning. Games are fun but preferably at a rapid pace and with simple rules. In many countries, children at this age are starting school.

Children at this age are increasingly interested in other people.
Being with friends and making new friends is important. They feel more socially secure. Media, books, games and music open up their world and inspire them; role-play becomes increasingly realistic and is performed theatrically. It is important that the things they create look good. In some countries, children are starting school.

Children want to test everything. The desire to play and the need for activities is large and furthermore children need time for learning to read, write and count. Friends are important, as is adapting and being like the others in order to not become an outsider. Children use secret languages and create rules for play and adventure. It is important for children to have the same things that their friends have. In some countries, children are starting school.

After seven years old children are improving their skills. They also love acquiring new skills.
Family, friends and play are very important. They are starting to understand and accept rules and learn to play in teams. They are also learning to compromise and accept others as they are. They begin to express who they are and what they like. They may spend a lot of time using technology.

A period of maturity and developing. Children reflect and think a lot and their ideas can influence the family, such as wanting to care for animals or be more environmentally aware. They need time by themselves but also their parents' support. They like to do things together like cooking, sport or playing games. But being part of groups outside the family is also important. They spend more time in friends' homes. They use the internet for homework as well as play.

These are the years between dependence and independence.
Children become critical of their parents and demand more freedom. Their wants and dreams for their own space/room change.
Toys are taken away and clothes, music and technology take over. But physically and emotionally they are still children.
Many are self-critical and spend hours in front of the mirror, trying out new dance steps, hairstyles and clothes.
Personal care can take a long time. The body is changing and difficult to control; their motor skills are temporarily worse than before. Feelings and relationships can be complicated.