Final answer:
Children begin enforcing social norms on others usually around six to ten years old, as they start to understand group memberships, peer acceptance, and fairness. They socialize into norms at school and assert their social understanding through play during preschool years.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children begin enforcing social norms on others at different ages, depending on the individual child and the cultural context. In many societies, children as young as five or six start attending school, where they are socialized into norms like standing in line and playing together. By age six, they often recognize group memberships and can compare themselves to peers, demonstrating an awareness of social expectations. However, their understanding of norms continues to develop significantly during the middle and late childhood years (ages 6-11), where they comprehend concepts like luck, fairness, and rules for games.
Specifically, children aged six to ten years old are generally good at cooperating and sharing, and are increasingly aware of peer acceptance and its impact on self-esteem. They can identify with group memberships and assert their understanding of norms within those groups.
Moreover, the role of age-related transition points is crucial for the socialization process, as children encounter new social roles requiring an understanding and enforcement of societal norms. In addition, play and social interactions during the preschool stage (ages 3-6) are important for children to initiate activities and begin to assert control over their social environment.