An 8-year-old has gained some mastery over his body and loves to use it. This does not mean there isn’t occasional clumsiness and sloppiness; there is just a strong willingness to try to do well.

Many 8-year-olds are starting to discover their passions, from sports to STEM activities to the arts. ... Helping kids get hooked on a book series is a great way to keep them gobbling up pages.

While eight-year-olds may be able to set goals, they’ll probably need help thinking through the steps needed to achieve them. That’s because the ability to make complex plans with ...