I highly recommend a book titled Yardsticks. It helps us understand children's thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and skills between ages 4 and 14. I use it as a parent and as an educator!
Seven Year Old Children Often
Test authority and take competition to extremes
Can be best friends one day and not the next
Inspire to write very tiny
Like perfection (in everyone, including themselves)
Like to work at their own pace and finish what they start
Learn best with and like repetition
Like auditory, visual, hands-on, & active learning
Can work quietly, sitting activities for 20 -30 minutes
Can be worriers and need adult reassurance
Eight Year Old Children Often
Hurry
Tire easily, need many short breaks
Make elaborate plans using their own ideas
Exaggerate
Want self, peer, and adult approval
Gravitate toward their own gender and think gender "rules" are important
Can struggle with "I'm bored", "I can't", and "It's too hard", therefore they need a calm voice and redirection
Yardsticks 3rd Edition by Chip Wood Copyright 2007 by Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.