The Basics

• Increases in height and weight become steadier, on average child gains over 2 inches and 5 to 7 pounds per year.

• Growth proceeds in a cephalocaudal direction, from the head downward through the body.

• By the time children move into middle childhood, their legs are growing more rapidly than their trunk or upper body- they continue to move closer to the proportions of an adult

• As the relative sizes of the head, trunk, and lower extremities finally come into balance

• Motor Development: Starts off still uncoordinated. Becomes more streamlined and coordinated

• Boys are slightly heavier and taller than girls until 9 or 10

• Muscular strength increases for both boys and girls

• Males develop more muscle tissue ; girls more fatty tissue

• Until age 13 or 14, girls will surpass boys in height and weight

• Growing Pains

  • Between 25% and 40% of children experience growing pains

  • Often in their thighs, calves, or behind their knees, and occasionally in their arms

  • Usually in the late afternoon or early evening

  • Not actually caused by growth. likely the result of fatigue from excessive physical activity.

• Permanent Teeth

  • Between 6-12 children lose their primary teeth and permanent teeth grow in

  • Permanent teeth are grown in at their full adult size and may seem too large for a child’s face

  • Facial bone’s “catch up” eventually (will be proportional)

Motor Development

• Gross Motor Skills

  • Pathways between cerebellum and cortex become increasingly myelinated

  • Increase in balance, coordination, and strength

    • Children engage in games/athletic activity that require movement of large muscles

  • Complex movements like climb, swim, skate

  • Organized sports: contributions of physical and cognitive abilities (working memory, following directions, perceptive of others)

  • Individual differences still present

• Safety is paramount – kids active, need to be supervised, proper safety gear, helmet etc. Prevent broken bones and injury

• Fine Motor Skills

  • Holds pencils similarly to adults

  • Handwriting – script, cursive

  • Abilities to dress - Ties shoes, zippers, wash themselves, coordinate eating utensils

  • Maintenance of hygiene functions develop accordingly

• As they get older, skill deficiencies not only affect their ability to play with peers, but also their ability to meet the demands of the school environment.

  • For example, they may be challenged by classroom tasks that require fine motor skills, such as using a pencil or scissors.

  • The child may not be able to complete his work in a timely way and this can begin to impact feelings of self-efficacy and self-esteem.

  • The child also may not be able to take care of functional tasks, like getting into or out of clothing or feeding himself.

• This trajectory can be changed in a positive direction, but may require intervention, especially if impacting daily functioning skills