Who is Influencing Elementary School Kids? How Do They Influence Your Child?

In the US, elementary school kids are ages 6 to 11 and elementary school teaching years are usually grades 1-5.

So much is happening with your child during these five years!

You are far from the main influence in your child's life any mores as far as the changes in their view of themselves. You are still the most important and the most reliable teacher, but now the elementary school teacher, friends, principals, activity coaches, friends' parents, are all having a great deal to do with your child's opinion of him or herself.

During elementary school teaching years, elementary school kids are greatly influenced by various authority figures, in either a good or a bad way.

If your child already has a very confident and positive view of him or herself, and is continuing to feel validated by you, then these other influences will be only temporary (especially if negative) or, at least will basically fill in the open spaces of that view, according to the perspective your child has.

Each experience your child has will add to the perspective of his or her opinion of him or herself, however minor that new view is.

Elementary school kids are beginning to relate to many different people outside the family - people from all different backgrounds. Those other people have no investment in your child and have their own issues, so, in many cases, their response to your child really has very little to do with your child and a great deal to do with their own issues.

However, your young child does not understand that part of life and, especially if the response is negative, your child may believe that negative response was caused by him or her.

It’s true, in some cases the person's response may be only because of your child and/or his or her actions. But in other cases it may be mostly because of that person's own experiences - or, at least the intensity of the response is because of the respondent's own experiences rather than because of your child.

For example, if a classmate from among the elementary school kids is constantly criticized and made to feel inadequate, then that child may tend to be jealous of your child when he or she receives praise from an elementary school teacher or other authority figure. The classmate may then say hurtful things to your child and criticize him or her. Depending on the strength of your child's self esteem, your child may believe the classmate's criticism to be valid rather than understand the reason behind the classmate's dislike.

It is at a time lime this and during the rest of the elementary school teaching years that you can help your child understand that the other person is not as fortunate as your child, and your child should make an effort to find good things about the classmate that can be complimented genuinely.

Help your child understand that he or she can do things to help other people feel better about themselves and therefore treat others better, as well. The key here is to help your child continue to feel good about him or herself and his or her abilities.

If your child doesn't have self image issues, his or her self image can withstand recognizing weaknesses in oneself that may be discovered during elementary school teaching years by various means. It is your job to help your child see that weaknesses are a part of being human and can be a strength if used in certain circumstances.

For example, if a child is poor in math, he or she can be more sympathetic to another child who is poor in math and they can more easily work together to learn and teach each other as they learn.

Of course, elementary school kids certainly will not like every person they come in contact with, no matter how much they understand the other’s personality issues. Encourage your child to express him or herself when needed, but to always consider the affect on other people. Always weigh the potential consequences of each choice of action.

This is grown-up talk, but the training is now. A person who is rich often is very sensitive to the situation of others. That sensitivity is useful as the wealthy destined child creates things or situations to help the situations of others.

A child who will be rich is also one who feels good about his or her right to be rich and, therefore, about his or her worth to the world. After all, wealth is usually the result of providing a service to the world.

Though it isn't mandatory, things will certainly be easier later in life if elementary school kids learn from a young age how to deal with people - even those with their own issues.

Next: Middle School Kids

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