General development in school period (6-12 years)

In this period, known as school age, the child starts school where the education he has gained at home is tested. Becomes ready to learn, to take responsibility, to share work and discipline. Gives importance to the personality of the teacher and identifies with him. In this way, there is an increase in the figures of identification with the opportunity created by the school – outside of the parents. The child needs to prove that he is capable of doing some tasks such as breaking and putting together toy cars, dolls, and drying the dishes. Children in this period wonder how to use the tools of the culture they live in; they want to take the first steps towards production; a sense of work develops. Boys play outside the house more than girls and enjoy competitive games. The first signs of puberty begin to appear in girls around the age of 9-11. Breast growth correlates with positive body image and friend relationships. The more they find out the weakness and the shortcomings of others, the more they see themselves as stronger. Ridiculing among peers is common. They usually play with their fellows. Peer relationships are an important criterion of a child’s spiritual maturity. When this period cannot develop properly for any reason, for example, failures at school or in peer relationships pave the way for the development of feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. The child, who experiences the conflict of industriousness and inferiority feelings, gains a sense of competence (competence in the field he is dealing with) when he is successful in this period.