School Aged Development

What are common issues kids face in school?

achievement, bullying, peer relationships

What are some signs that should be investigated?

frequent stomach/head aches, change in behavior, bedwetting

What are some healthy lifestyle behaviors that parents should use?

dont use food as reward, limit fast food, good nutrition, exersise, DARE (tobacco, alcohol, etc)

What should be used to prevent injuries in this age group?

helmets, car seats, seatbelts

What is the most common cause of death in kids over 4?

MVA

Education for latch-key kids

should not be alone under 10, have contingency plan for lost keys, etc.

What are common school aged fears?

natural disasters, being hurt, death in family, being kidnapped, surgery, may continue to fear dark (KEY: less imagined things, parents can teach kids to overcome)

What role does media play in development?

Positive (learning, connect to likeminded people) or negative (decreased peer interaction, cannot limit what is seen/searched, dont understand consequences of posting, AI, body image)

What is the Healthy People guideline for screen time?

Encourage parents to limit screen time from 6 to 17 (don’t know how it impacts brain development

What happens to teeth in this stage?

Deciduous teeth shed, permentant teeth appear (6yo)

What age is a child’s airway similar to an adults?

7 yo

How much do kids grow between 6 and 12?

Double weight, grow 1-2ft

What happens to main organ systems?

nearing adult capacities (HR slow, BP up)

What are some common physical attributes in this age range?

slim waist, small head, long legs

What two factors drive physical growth?

Genetics and Environment

What happens to the immune system?

Continues to get stronger

When do growth spurts appear and how do genders differ?

Prepubesence, boys 2 years later than girls

What happens to the muscular system?

increasing size and strength, remain at risk for overuse injuries. helps to alternate sports by season

What is prepubesence?

middle childhood to 13th birthday, 2 years preceding puberty

When does puberty start?

Girls: 8 to 13, Boys: 9-12

What is a consequence of kids hitting puberty at different times?

gender differences emerge and some kids look older than others. Treat kids like the age they are, not what they look like.

Key gross motor skills in school age children

may be awkward in growth spurts, bicycling, jumping rope, skating

Key fine motor skills in school age children

crafts, card games, board games, play instruments

What piaget stage are school age children in

Concrete operational (7-11yo)

Elements of cognitive development in middle childhood

problem solving based on reason, understanding complex reason (classification into simultaneous categories, conservation (mass not change w size) reversibility), able to tell time. Uses past memories in present, not considering future

Communication and language in this stage

learing to read, use of plurals and pronouns, enjoy jokes and riddles (understand metalinguistics/double meanings), understand metaphors, use profanity and dirty jokes

Body image in middle childhood

acutely aware of bodys and deviation from “norm”, physical impairment is great importance, risk feeling inferior or less desireable

Sexuality in middle childhood

curiosity is not sexual in nature, sex education encouraged in parents to dispel myths (car convo, anticipatory guidance)

Social interaction in middle childhood

peers/friends become very important to them, question parents, strong sense of belonging and desire to be liked/accepted. “best friends” switch often, segregate by gender, bullying emerge

What is different about current bullying

Can happen in person and online so theres no escape, suicide risk even when young, stomach ache = sign of stress, as provider ask Qs about school and friends

What erikson stage are school aged children in?

Industry vs inferiority (6-12yrs)

Elements of industry

eager to help and learn, want to see self as successful, live up to expectations, focus on peers and society (social, physical and academic skills)

How can parents help support positive psychosocial development

teach kids they are not going to be great the first tim,e help them work on it and build resilliance

Elements of interiority

doesn’t measure up to expectations of self, peers, adults. happens when too much or too little is expected of them

What are elements of moral development in 6-7 year olds?

know expected rules and behaviors, don’t understand reasoning, behavior guided by rewards and punishments, may interpret accidents/illness as punishment for bad behavior

what are elements of moral development in 8-12 years old?

judge act by intention rather than only consequences

How should parents help with moral development?

intervene early with rewards, understand consequences when older, kids can lie and cheat because they want to win

How does culture influence school age children?

thrive on culture, music, language, tradition, holidays, games, values

What type of play do school aged children participate in?

cooperative (common goal) moving towards competitive play. group activities, rules and standards. importance of including solitary/quiet time as well

What activities do 6-9 year olds do?

board and number games, hopscotch, jump rope, collect things, ride bikes, build models, organized sports

What type of activities do 9-12 year olds do?

crafts, build models, collect things, hobbies, jigzaw puzzles, board or card games, organized sports, musical instruments

How to handle bossiness in this stage

will happen at beginning, other kids will call them out, parents help teach too