As your child gets older, you will notice changes in his/her behaviour and interests. While it's exciting to see your child seek more independence, there are new personal and online safety concerns as well. The following section outlines common characteristics of children 5 to 7 years of age.

The growing personality: children 5 to 7 years of age

• Want everything to be fun.
• Ask a lot of questions. They are trying to understand their surroundings and see the world with themselves at 'centre stage.'
• Are full of life. They often overstep boundaries and speak abruptly.
• Thinking is in the here and now. Everything is black and white.
• Enjoy fantasy play and haven't completely ruled out the possibility that some fantasy isn't real (such as monsters, ghosts and Power Rangers).
• Experience more fear (monsters, ghosts, witches, robbers, etc.).
• Look to safe adults (especially parents and teachers) for how to process new information and whether they should be scared or not.
• Tend to personalize events that happen to others and need reassurance that they are safe.
• Need a positive relationship with a parent (caregiver) and their teacher.
• Gain a more developed conscience.
• Are beginning to learn that they gain positive recognition when they accomplish things.
• Don't generally follow rules for games. They are more likely to follow simple rules enforced by adults.
• Develop capacity for empathy and guilt, but can quickly lose that empathy if they feel jealous or competitive.
• Feel shame and humiliation when adults discover something they shouldn't have done.
• Enjoy learning about their bodies.