Final answer:
Children are socialized during their early school years, learning both academic skills and social norms that include cooperation and the importance of peer acceptance. Their emotional development is intricate, affecting self-esteem and behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children in their early years of school, such as kindergarteners, are not only learning academic skills like reading and writing but are also being socialized into societal norms. This includes behaviors like keeping their hands to themselves, standing in line, and playing together cooperatively. As they grow older, around the ages of six to ten, children start interacting more with mixed-gender groups, although they still may enjoy solitary play. Their ability to cooperate and share develops, which is crucial for participating in team sports and other group activities such as scouts.
Children's emotional development during this time is also significant. They become more sensitive to peer acceptance, which can have a profound impact on their self-esteem. At the same time, they are learning important life lessons through play, such as following rules and working with others. It is during these formative years that children are particularly impressionable, with both prosocial and antisocial behaviors being modeled by adults around them. Parents and public figures alike can serve as models for positive social behaviors.