If a child is 10 years old but behaves like an 8-year-old, it is referred to as their __________ age.

The term that best describes the behavior of a child who is 10 years old but exhibits the behavior patterns typically associated with an 8-year-old is "emotional age." Emotional age refers to the level of emotional maturity and development a person displays, which may not align with their chronological age. In this context, the child's emotional age indicates that they are functioning at a level more akin to younger children, reflecting their emotional and psychological development rather than their actual age in years. This concept is useful in understanding developmental differences.

Chronological age refers simply to the actual age of the child based on their birth date, and cognitive age pertains to intellectual development and learning capabilities. Physical age would relate to the child’s physical growth and development. Each of these other terms describes different aspects of a child’s growth and maturity, but emotional age specifically addresses the emotional and behavioral functioning relative to their age.