in return they expect more from their friends. They want to fit in and do the right thing. Peer
pressure becomes increasingly significant. Brand loyalty becomes important during the
tweens. Kids have got to be “cool” and wear the right design with the right label. This is the
age for organized groups like the Boy Scouts, church groups, and organized sports. Tweens
want to learn the rules. Although they might question authority rather than blindly follow
rules, they are not eager to go against authority. Their moral sense has developed. They tend
to think better in shades of gray.
This is an age of speed, busyness, and activity, a time of curiosity, exploring places, finding
new friends, and trying new things. Kids are easier to divert toward constructive play. They
might be multitaskers. Nothing is too difficult, no challenge too great. Tweens won’t always
follow through, but there is also enough time, and tweens use some of this time to learn the
use of technology. Tween girls like to work with crafts. Eight-year-olds like to play with real
and fake money. They like to collect things; number and quantity are more important than
value. They’re open to appreciating more detail. They’re beginning to have a historic per-
spective and an interest in faraway places and events. They’re interested in the future and
in outer space and science fiction. They like personalized items: autographs, logo items, and
personal magazine subscriptions. They notice differences and make comparisons. Sex jokes
and size comparisons are still in. The typical eight-year-old is also sensitive, and failure is
often met with tears. There’s still an interest in all-girl and all-boy activities such as makeup
and professional sports. There is an interest in strenuous physical activity and competition,
in nature, and in animals.
Eight-year-olds attach themselves to role models, sports figures, movie stars, and church
leaders. The tweens like action and programming that come at a fast pace (MTV). They like
comic books but begin to look for more complex stories. They still like dramatic play: cops
and robbers, teacher, doctor and nurse, actors, soldiers. Tweens play with realistic dolls like
Barbie and G.I. Joe; they collect things and play games (card games, board games, electronic
and computer games).
Age Nine
Nine is another more introverted, quieter age. A child is likely to be wrapped up in herself
and overly sensitive, especially about comparisons. There’s less self-confidence. Nine-year-
olds want to belong to a group or a club, and they get upset when excluded. There’s a great
desire to be useful and needed. It’s difficult to make choices. These kids are apt to resist
adult supervision and be critical of others, worry about their own health, and complain. They
cry easily when frustrated or when they feel mistreated. They hate anything unfair. They
need definiteness, clarity, and standardized rules. They have heroes and might retreat into
books or comic books. They like movies and TV, but some boys are now outgrowing ani-
mation. Skills are fairly mature. This is a peak of variety in play activities. There are sex dif-
ferences in play, with boys preferring vigorous play stunts and mechanical devices and girls
liking realistic types of dramatization. Girls like to gossip. Nine-year-olds are curious about
discoveries, science, and personalities in the news. Self-consciousness and overly high stan-
dards could block their best creative work. Puberty can begin as early as nine. Children this
age feel they are mature and want to be independent.
Human Development 51