middle childhood

What are key physical growth patterns in middle childhood?

• Grow 2-3 inches and gain 5-7 pounds per year.

• By age 11, avg height: ~52 inches; avg weight: ~82 lbs (girls), ~77 lbs (boys).

• Girls grow taller than boys starting around age 9.

• Lower body grows fastest; long-legged appearance.

• Girls accumulate fat faster; boys develop more muscle.

How does the brain develop during middle childhood?

• Pruning of unused synapses increases motor speed and reaction time.

• Cerebellum growth & myelination improve motor skills and attention.

• Prefrontal cortex develops, enhancing response inhibition.

What are common gross and fine motor milestones in middle childhood?

• 6-7 Years: Skipping, cutting with scissors.

• 8-9 Years: Jumping vertically, neater handwriting.

• 10-12 Years: Jumping higher, drawing detailed images.

What cognitive abilities improve in middle childhood?

• Tell time, understand cause-and-effect relationships.

• Think symbolically, read and comprehend books.

• Solve logical problems (math, conservation tasks).

• Apply memory strategies like rehearsal.

What are characteristics of Piaget’s concrete operational stage?

Logical, flexible, and organized thinking applied to concrete information.

What are key conservation milestones in Piaget’s theory?

• 7-8: Conservation of substance.

• 9-10: Conservation of weight.

• 12: Conservation of volume.

What are Vygotsky’s stages of learning activities?

• 0-1 Years: Intuitive & emotional contact.

• 1-3 Years: Object manipulation.

• 3-7 Years: Playing games.

• 7-11 Years: Learning activities (structured education).

• 11-15 Years: Social communication.

• 15-17 Years: Vocational learning.

How does information processing improve in middle childhood?

• Increased attention span and ability to focus on relevant information.

• Better working memory and executive function.

• Growth in metacognition and problem-solving.

How does theory of mind develop during this stage?

• Children reflect on their own thought processes.

• Recognize that success in tasks depends on attention.

• Understand interrelatedness of memory and comprehension.

What are key language milestones in middle childhood?

• Vocabulary expands ~4x (~40,000 words by age 12).

• Improved use of grammar and sentence structure.

• Enjoys puns, riddles, metaphors.

• Uses passive voice and conditional sentences.

Industry vs. Inferiority

• Developing competence in useful skills.

• Success leads to confidence; failure can result in feelings of inferiority.

• Influenced by school, family, and peer interactions.

How do emotions develop in middle childhood?

• Personal responsibility increases self-conscious emotions.

• Motivated by self-esteem and peer approval.

• Understand mixed emotions and show greater empathy.

• Improved emotional regulation and coping strategies.

What are common coping strategies used by children?

Problem solving, cognitive reframing, support seeking, avoidance, rumination

Popular-Prosocial

Friendly, cooperative, socially skilled.

Popular-Antisocial

Aggressive but socially skilled ("tough kids").

Rejected-Aggressive

Poor social skills, often bullied.

Rejected-Withdrawn

Socially anxious, avoids peers.

Controversial

Both liked and disliked.

Neglected

Ignored but not necessarily disliked.

What are characteristics of friendships during this stage?

• More selective; friendships last longer.

• Based on shared interests and trust.

• Peer groups influence behavior and development.

• Aggressive friends can reinforce antisocial behaviors.

How does moral reasoning develop in middle childhood?

• Move from preconventional (obedience & self-interest) to conventional (social norms & rules).

• Understand fairness, justice, and perspective-taking.

• Begin to apply moral principles to real-life situations