075. The 7-Year Change: Insights into What’s Going on with Your 7-Year-Old with Jessica Stack

If you’re listening to this, you probably have a seven-year-old or a child near that age…we all know that kids have curious minds and listening ears. If you’re listening to this episode around or near them or are in the car with them, just a heads up that in this episode around the 40- minute mark we talk about Santa Claus and the magic of Christmas and how we celebrate and present that to our children. Just mentioning it because I want to honor that every family has their own way of celebrating holidays and traditions…also, listening ears and curious minds and all that. I invite you to use your own discretion. My oldest turns 7 years old this week. In honor of this big transition, I’ve invited educator Jessica Stack onto the show to share insights about this particular age. Have you noticed that your 7-year-old is talking back more? Or expressing defiance? Skepticism? Suddenly not trying or eating foods they loved before? Sensory challenges? Unable to sit still at the dinner table? Maybe out of the blue your child needs glasses? Or you get the sense that they don’t see the world the same as they did just a short time ago.  This new Independence and defiance can really catch us off guard as parents…what happened to our babies!? The changes at this age aren’t all shocking…they might also be expressing heightened curiosity and a desire to seek out more in the world like wanting to know “the facts” about what’s the biggest, fastest, tallest, etc. and how things work. You may have also noticed they have a heightened sense of competition and comparison (wanting to be better than). Or even a resistance to learning because your 7-year-old tells you they feel like they “aren’t good enough” or can’t draw or write out what it is that’s in their head. If any or all of this describes you or your child, you’re not alone! Our babies aren’t our babies anymore! We’ve got big kids! And one of the best ways we can help them through this transition is to understand more about what it is they are going through. It’s really easy to see this age shift as a big pain, but Jess and I want to encourage you to be curious about this age and all the change that it brings. Jessica’s Bio: Jess is a Hawaii mom who has worked in public, private, and Waldorf schools, giving her a unique perspective on child development. She has a passion for the theatre, visual arts, food, and helping others. Jess holds a Bachelor of Education from University of Hawaii Manoa and a Diploma of Rudolf Steiner Education from Taruna College in New Zealand. She and her husband Will live on the island of Oahu with their two sons. FULL SHOW NOTE AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM  Follow Jess on IG, Facebook, & Pinterest: @haystackessentials Please Visit Today’s Sponsors: Blossom & Root: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/homeschool  Primally Pure: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/primallypure Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/loribethauldridge