Screening Several reasons why ongoing self screening starting in 4th grade is necessary, fast, easy, and inexpensive. Depression for young people begins earlier than many adults believe. Psychiatrists and researchers who do careful histories discover that the problem often begins at age 9 or 10.
Developmental psychologists recognize that the brain evolves.
It goes through important biological changes at specific times that improve it. One of those times is age 9. It is somewhat the same process as spring house cleaning when getting rid of unnecessary clutter improves efficiency. Educators and textbook manufacturers know there is a bigger jump in most children's ability between 3rd and 4th grade than there is between 2nd and 3rd. This improvement is the result of programmed cell death.