Final answer:
Children's emerging awareness and control of their intellectual skills and abilities are termed self-concept, which develops through various stages in life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe children's emerging awareness and control of their intellectual skills is self-concept. This involves the development of cognitive abilities and understanding who they are within the context of their environment. During early childhood stages, toddlers between 1-3 years old show signs of autonomy and independence, as demonstrated by their desire to choose their own clothes or food. They are at the stage of resolving the issue of autonomy versus shame and doubt.
As children reach preschool age (3-6 years), their cognitive skills further develop, allowing them to initiate activities and assert control, thereby addressing the task of initiative versus guilt as described by Erikson. Around this age, they also grasp the concept of time, develop a sense of humor, engage in pretend play, and begin to ask questions like "Why?" in their effort to understand the world around them.
By middle childhood (6-11 years old), their thought processes become more logical and focused on concrete information, gaining a better grasp of past, present, and future, thus facilitating planning and goal-setting. Their understanding evolves further as they begin to recognize the perspectives of others and differentiate between their own thoughts and those of the people around them, which is a milestone in developing theory-of-mind (TOM).