Motor Development and Special Needs in Middle Childhood

These flashcards cover key concepts related to motor development, health issues, psychological disorders, and language development in middle childhood.

What physical changes are noted during the growing period of middle childhood?

Height and weight changes occur, with girls being taller than boys on average for a time.

What are some factors affecting growth in children?

Nutrition, disease, genetic inheritance, and familial stress.

Why do children in poorer areas often have lower growth rates compared to those in affluent areas?

Insufficient nutrition and other socioeconomic factors affect their development.

What are some benefits of adequate nutrition for children?

Improved peer involvement, positive emotions, less anxiety, increased exploration, persistence, and energy levels.

What are the common causes of obesity in children?

Genetic factors, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy eating patterns.

What developmental skills do children enhance during middle childhood?

Skills such as riding a bike, ice skating, swimming, and skipping rope.

Do boys and girls differ in their motor skills during middle childhood?

Yes, boys often outperform girls, particularly due to societal expectations.

How does fine motor development relate to neurological changes in children?

Increased myelin accelerates electrical impulses between neurons, aiding fine motor skills.

What is a common health issue for children in middle childhood?

Asthma has significantly increased in prevalence.

What are some major causes of accidents among school-age children?

Motor vehicle incidents, biking accidents, fires, drowning, and gun-related deaths.

How can schools ensure safety for children in cyberspace?

Implementing software controls and assessing effectiveness of such measures.

Why are psychological disorders in children often overlooked?

Symptoms often differ from those in adults, leading to underdiagnosis.

What are key symptoms of major depressive disorder in children?

Symptoms are similar to those in adults, but expression may vary with development.

What constitutes visual impairments in school-age children?

Blindness (20/200 after correction) or partial sightedness (20/70 after correction).

What percentage of school-age children are affected by auditory impairments?

Auditory impairments affect 1 to 2 percent of school-age children.

What is stuttering?

A substantial disruption in the rhythm and fluency of speech.

What are symptoms of ADHD in children?

Difficulty finishing tasks, following instructions, excessive talking, and fidgeting.

What is the impact of ADHD medication like Ritalin?

It can improve attention span but has potential side effects and unclear long-term health consequences.

What strategies can encourage children to remain physically fit?

Making exercise fun, being an exercise role model, and providing a healthy diet.

What intellectual stage do children enter between ages 7 and 12 according to Piaget?

The concrete operational stage, characterized by logical thinking applied to concrete problems.

What cognitive advancements occur when children shift from preoperational to concrete operational thought?

Increased active and appropriate use of logic, decentering, and understanding of reversibility.

How does memory improve during middle childhood?

Increased ability to handle information and improvements in short-term memory capacity.

What is the significance of metamemory in children?

It involves understanding memory processes and improves children's strategy use.

What is Vygotsky's concept regarding cognitive advances?

Cognitive advances occur within the zone of proximal development (ZPD) through collaborative learning.

What is metalinguistic awareness?

Understanding the rules governing language use, which develops significantly in middle childhood.

How do bilingual children exhibit cognitive advantages?

Greater cognitive flexibility, higher self-esteem, improved meta-linguistic awareness, and possible higher IQ scores.