Final answer:
Children become aware of limits as they progress through stages of cognitive and social development. Between 6-11 years old, they develop an understanding of game rules, fairness, and planning, enabling them to recognize and abide by limits. Prior to this, beginning at age 2, children develop social behaviors and self-concept, which contribute to their understanding of limits in a social context.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children become aware of limits during different stages of development, each characterized by specific cognitive milestones. Particularly, in middle and late childhood (6-11 years old), children develop an understanding of rules, fairness, and the concept of cause-and-effect. It's during this period that cognitive skills allow for more logical and organized thought processes, especially when dealing with concrete information. This means that children can follow game rules due to their grasp of fairness and luck. Additionally, the ability to plan and work towards goals emerges as children comprehend the past, present, and future.
From 2-4 years old, an increase in social behavior signifies the establishment of a self-concept, which includes the formation of gender roles and the ability to cooperate and share under guidance. By age 4, children exhibit autonomy and can initiate tasks, contributing to a positive sense of self. As they enter school age, they become capable of identifying themselves by group memberships, like being a first grader, and begin to compare themselves to peers. Their ability to recognize personal traits and aspire to other traits also develops.
Throughout these years, children's cognitive and psychosocial development is evident in their play, social interactions, and increasing awareness of the perspectives of others, which is a key aspect of theory-of-mind (TOM) acquired between 3 and 5 years of age. With this growth in understanding and the ability to see beyond egocentric viewpoints, children are able to consider and become more responsive to limits.