CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION
In the last unit you studied about the concept of primary school teacher, the qualities of primary school teacher, the roles expected of the primary school teacher, the relationship between the teacher
and the pupil and the as a model to the pupils.

In this unit you will study about the physical characteristics of primary school children, emotional characteristics of primary school children and cognitive characteristic of primary school children, and their educational implications.

 OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, you should be able to do the following:

• Explain the physical characteristics of primary school children 
• Describe the social characteristics of primary school children Explain the emotional characteristics of primary school children Describe the cognition characteristics of the primary school children
• Describe the implications of these characteristics. 

The Physical Characteristic of the primary School Children

You should know that children between the ages of 6 and 9 years are extremely active; they participate in the sedentary pursuit. They also release energy in the form of nervous habit such as pencil chewing, finger biting, hair twirling, and general fidgeting. They easily become fatigued as a result of physical and mental exertion. Many children, especially boys, have difficult manipulating a pencil. Many children have difficult focusing on small prints or objects. Quite a few children may be far sighted because of the shallow shape of the eyes. At the age of nine children tend to be extreme in their physical activities. They have excellent control of their bodies and develop considerable confidence in their skills. As a result, they often underestimate the danger involved in their move during exploits. The accident rate is at a peak; a growth spirit occurs in most girls and stars in early-maturing boys in same age. Fine motor coordination is quite good; therefore the manipulating of small objects is easy and enjoyable for most children. As a result, arts and crafts and music activities are popular.

Educational Implication of Physical Characteristics for Effective Teaching in Primary School

Every primary school should provide adequate, free and self opportunities for children’s play. This will help them learn how to share interact and co-operate in teamwork. The school should provide variety of play equipment for pupils’ use, this will help in the development of bones and muscles and keep them fit specific games should be organized for the children under strict supervision of the teachers to minimize accident. Children should be allowed to rest after strenuous exercise to avoid fatigue. Children’s books should be written with bold letters and teachers writing on the chalk board to be legible; this will minimize children gazing at tiny objects.

Children with left hand should be encouraged to use them instead of compelling them to change. Those who are physically handicapped should not be pitied rather should be engaged in activities that suit their physical capability. Between the age of ten to twelve the teacher should help the pupils to adjust. The school should encourage activities skills in creative ways.

 Social Characteristic of Primary School Children Pupils

Understand that primary school pupils are somewhat more selective in their choice of friends and many also pick out a semi permanent enemy.” Children of age six to nine often like organized
games in small groups, but they may be overly concerned with rules or get carried away by team spirit. Quarrels are frequent within these groups. Words are used more often than physical
aggression, but many boys may indulge in punching, wresting and shoving.


At the age of ten to twelve, the peer groups become powerful and begin to replace adults as the major source of behavior of behavior standers and recognition of achievement. The development of inter
persons reasoning leads to greater understanding of the feelings of other primary school children. Primary school children pick up habit very fast at this stage. Habits like growing in love, self
confidence, and maintaining stable relationship, development of self control, having self responsibility and self consideration for others.

Educational Implication of Social Characteristic of Primary School Children to Learning

In the light of the above social characteristics of primary school children, teacher and school should:

1. Take the place of parents in the school by loving, protecting and caring for the children so that parents absents will not be felt much. 
2. The teacher should inoculate in the children how to be polite, obedient, respectful, courteous and relate well with one another. 
3. The teacher should encourage the children to play, associate and work cooperatively on joint projects with other. The shy and loner ones should be given enough encouragement to integrate with others. 
4. The teacher should allow the children to settle their differences on their Own and only intervene if the quarrel gets off hand. The school provide adequate and enough play materials and teaching in other to minimize constant quarreling. All this will enable the pupil to satisfy their curiosity when they want to play