Ch. 9 Lecture - Middle Childhood

Middle Childhood Definition

• Between the ages of 6 and 12 years

• Focus more on fact rather than fantasy

• Major developmental tasks include forming positive self-esteem from internal sources

• Ability to develop close peer relationships

• Accept more responsibility

• Change from concrete to abstract thinking

• Develop secondary sex characteristics (Body hair, deeper voices, etc)

Physiological Changes

• Physical growth is slow until a growth spurt just before puberty

• Loss of primary teeth begins around age 6

• Fine and gross motor skills and muscle strength develop

• Enables participation in team sports, music, and dance

Health Education

• Accident & injury prevention

• Scoliosis screening

• Need for immunizations

• Dental hygiene and care

Exercise and Play

• Engage in rough-and-tumble play

• Competitive team play is a welcome challenge

• Organized sports develop teamwork and fitness

• Excessive pressure to win should be avoided

Exercise and Play (Continued)

• School-age children need daily physical activity and adequate rest • Builds strength, endurance, coordination, and protects heart health

• Promotes healthy body composition and bone mass

• Collecting things or playing board games are often enjoyed

Electronic Media – Internet Safety & Risks

• Used for entertainment, communication, and education

• Has both advantages and disadvantages

• Gamification can encourage participation

• Social media provides information and social contact but can expose children to risks

• Screen time should not exceed 2 hours/day or replace physical activity

Electronic Media (Continued)

• Physical fitness may suffer from sedentary habits

• Caregivers should model good internet use

• Parents’ internet behavior should not negatively affect children

Cognitive Development

• Concrete thinkers

• Understand rules

• Hands-on learning is most effective educational method

• Less egocentric

Cognitive Styles

• Pattern of thought and reasoning

• Use mnemonic techniques

• Feelings of success encourage continued effort

• Enjoy collecting things

Three Phases of Moral Behavior

• Knowledge (logic): knowing what is right

• Emotion: feeling good or bad about it

• Action (behavior): acting according to what is right

Communication Skills

• Usually able to express themselves verbally

• Use language effectively

• Communication problems can cause social isolation and school underachievement

Psychosocial Development Topics

• Task of industry

• Peer relationships

• Latchkey children

• Sexuality

Industry vs Inferiority (Erikson)

• Gain satisfaction from achieving small goals

• Praise builds motivation to learn and achieve

Peer Relationships

• Begin comparing family values with others

• Friendships with same-sex peers are important

• Family problems (divorce, violence) can interfere with development

• Can develop close friendships

Latchkey Children

• Left unsupervised after school because parents work

• May enjoy independence and gain maturity

• Others may feel isolated or be at higher risk for trouble • After-school programs are helpful

Sexuality (Freud’s Period of Sexual Latency)

• Children may ask questions about sexuality

• Should receive honest, accurate answers

• Identify with same-sex parents

• Sex education is lifelong and normal in development

Teaching Techniques

• Attention span maxes at ~45 minutes

• Present truthful, factual, age-appropriate information

• Praise and occasional rewards reinforce learning

• Peer attitudes influence learning and values

Discipline

• Provide age-appropriate positive reinforcement

• Investigate motivation for misbehavior

• ADHD children may misbehave unintentionally

• Corporal punishment discouraged

• Do not reward children with food

Self-esteem for chidlren

• Parents are encouraged to break cycles of low self esteem

• Children with low self-esteem have low performance expectations, leading to high anxiety and sometimes reduced effort

• translates into actual failure

Discipline

• provide age-appropriate positive reinforcement for good behavior

• Motivation for misbehavior should be investigated

• Children with ADHD are likely to misbehave unintentionally

• Corporal punishment

• Kids with ADHD may act out on purpose

• Corporal punishment can lead to aggressive or violent behavior