At What Age Are Children Most Impressionable?

Children up to the age of eight are the most impressionable according to author Maureen Healy. Up to this point, they cannot distinguish what is seen on television or in video games from reality. They often imitate what they see, believing that monsters are real and people can have super powers.

To ensure that children have positive experiences and learn the difference between a game or show and what happens in real life, parents must pay attention to what kids are viewing. They can limit what children watch or play as well as how much of it they have access to. Parents can also talk to their kids about what they see to help them learn the difference between what is real and what is pretend. It also helps if parents get them involved in more active play, such as board games, puzzles, reading and playing outdoors.