Little kids, little problems, big kids, big problems? This is an adage we often hear. But at what age do children really become “easier”?
When you ask parents, no two people have the same opinion on the matter. For some, the infant stage is the hardest to live through. Between the lack of sleep and the constant needs of the baby, hypervigilance is constant. For others, the famous “terrible twos” is the absolute nightmare, with a child learning “no” and testing the patience of the entire family. As for parents of teenagers, they lament their child’s nonchalant behavior, lack of communication and repeated tantrums. But is there really an age at which children become easier to live with?
If you ask around, you’ll probably get a different answer each time. This is a question that often comes up on forums and in discussions between parents. But each age actually brings its own set of challenges. Leaving very early childhood means leaving diapers and the need to meet the baby’s basic needs at all times. We can therefore consider that children become a little “easier” around the age of 4.
But it is also the age of little tantrums and starting school, a stage that may not be obvious. For many parents, it is rather at 8 years old that things become easier. The child gains autonomy, but he remains a “little one”, fond of jokes and moments spent with his parents. Discussions and exchanges are enriched, personality and tastes assert themselves. Between 6 and 10 years old, it is also the age of primary school and its reassuring cocoon. This period when children leave very early childhood, but do not yet have one foot in adolescence, is considered by many to be a blessed time.
The onset of puberty and entering sixth grade mark a difficult milestone for many children. Between raging hormones and discovering middle school, tensions can arise in the home. The nice little kid in CM2 suddenly turns into a grumpy preteen who drags his feet and refuses to do his homework. But he sharpens his critical mind, his thinking is enriched and open discussions, even if they are fewer and the child increasingly guards his secret garden, are infinitely precious. Each age has its advantages… And its challenges!