Keep in mind that children of different ages are at different levels of development. The information below contains general patterns of development.
Sparks
Brownies
Guides
Pathfinders
SPARKS (ages 5-6)
Motor Skills:
Gross motor skills are more developed than fine motor skills. Children of this age can:
Throw – can throw overhead with good accuracy
Catch – can catch from close distances (i.e. one to two metres) into their body
Bounce – can bounce a ball
Run – can start and stop, dodge and change direction, change speed
Balance – can balance on one foot and walk a line
Kick – can kick a rolling ball
Spark-age children:
Have a short attention span – As a leader, if you give short explanations; plan activities shorter in duration and change activities often, you will hold their attention for longer.
Like routine – Sparks may have favourite games, so keep that in mind with your plans.
Want to be involved – Thy to pick games that involve as many players as possible, reduce sitting time and have as much equipment to limit need for sharing
Enjoy music – Sparks love creative activities, and are very imaginative.
Are egocentric – Sparks may have difficulty cooperating; team goals are not important to them
BROWNIES (ages 7-8)
Motor Skills:
Beginning to develop fine motor skills, children this age can:
Catch – can trap a ball with their feet
Bounce - can dribble a ball with their hands
Kick – can dribble a ball with their feet
Balance – is improving as is hand-eye coordination
Using equipment may be difficult unless it is stationary i.e. T-ball
Brownie-age children:
Have a short attention span - As a leader, if you give short explanations; plan activities shorter in duration and change activities often, you will hold their attention for longer.
Have an increasing sense of competition - Children begin to recognize that some are more skilled than others (recognize better players when selecting partners or teams). Winning and losing increases in importance.
Have comprehension of directions – Their ability to understand direction improves. Understanding of concepts of time, space, weight is developing.
Ask questions - They can begin to include problem solving aspects into games.
GUIDES (ages 9-11)
Guide-age children:
Increase in the development of fine motor skills
Have an improving ability to use equipment
Have a desire to do well
Have an improving ability to work in groups
Recognize that rules become more important and should be firmly established
Begin to have interests in specific types of activities i.e. group may have favourite game or activity that they like to repeat
Recognize values i.e. leader must be fair in all actions
PATHFINDERS (ages 12 -14)
Pathfinder-age children:
- Are reaching physical maturity; have strength and energy
- Feel self-conscious about their bodies
- Think logically about concepts
- Are increasingly able to memorize; think logically about concepts
- Are concerned about fair treatment of others i.e. games must have fair and inclusive rules
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