Mastery of social and physical skills is an important indicator of this stage. Needs same sex friends for development of sexual identity. Needs approval, direction, and affirmation from both adults and peers. Stands back and observes everything. On the threshold of adolescence, everything is possible.
Student undertakes to build a solid sense of self and personal worth.
A time of duality and building of identity. Helping the gifted child develop a healthy sense of self-esteem is one of the more challenging parenting tasks we are faced with. Personally, I prefer the straight forward style of this book over many I've read on the subject. I highly recommend it for both parents and teachers. Child development experts rely upon theoretical frameworks built from the work of Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Erik Erikson, Arnold Gesell, Margaret Mahler, Jean Piaget, and others.