You answered,
"Jesse, age 7."
Oops!
Typically, 5- to 8-year-olds are less concerned
with body image and peer acceptance than are 12- to 14-year-olds. It is common for early
teens to become concerned with personal appearance and impressing their peers. They often
feel like everybody is watching them, and they engage in grooming behaviors that may seem
excessive to adults. Be patient and extra careful not to criticize during this
"sensitive" period; luckily, this time of heightened awareness of appearances
and peer opinions will eventually pass.