Development 4-7 yrs: the age of reason

This is a period of great intellectual growth as your child learns to read, write and problem-solve. She can also grasp more abstract ideas, like numbers, time and distance.

Your child can concentrate for much longer periods and may spend hours engrossed in a book or game. She can print and write, but may reverse some letters and have untidy writing.

Focused interests

She's developing her own specific interests and may enjoy books on related subjects or collecting things. Use these interests to add enjoyment to schoolwork. Help her to use arts and crafts to augment or display her collections and encourage her to read, write and draw about her hobbies.

Beginning to problem-solve

Her greater attention span is combined with more sophisticated thinking processes. She's developing a sense of logic and often sticks with a problem until she has solved it. She gains a sense of satisfaction from tackling simple number problems.

These new abilities give her more confidence in developing and expressing her own point of view. She begins to reject some of your ideas and may argue in favour of her own.

Left and right

Learning the difference between left and right can be confusing, so make it more fun with games like 'Simon Says'. Try buying her a (cheap) watch to wear on her left wrist - this can make it easier to remember. Most children know which is which by 7 or 8 yrs old.

Related articles:

• Development 4-7 yrs: not a baby anymore
• Development 4-7 yrs: sense of time
• Development 4-7 yrs: 'who am I?'