Notes on Middle Childhood Development

Middle Childhood Overview

Ages 7-12: This is the phase of development recognized as middle childhood.
Piaget's Theory:
- Logical thinking begins appearing around ages 7-8.
- Children can reason conceptually about concrete objects but struggle with abstract scientific thinking.
Erikson's Stages:
- Industry vs. Inferiority: Children strive to follow adult roles and work towards their desires.

Brain Development:
- Slow growth in frontal lobes contributes to achievements observed in middle childhood.
- Key components:
- Cerebral Cortex: Responsible for higher brain functions.
- Myelin Sheath: Increases speed of neural impulses.
- Synaptogenesis: Formation of new synapses particularly in visual & motor areas.
Motor Skills & Health:
- Expansion of motor skills, but today's elementary school children demonstrate less physical proficiency than previous generations.
- Dramatic individual differences in physical coordination exist; coordination correlates less with fitness as teens.
- Childhood activity levels are influenced by caregiver involvement.
Obesity Concerns:
- Obesity statistically linked to preschool body mass index (BMI).
- Identified as BMI at or above the 95th percentile.
- Negative emotional consequences often accompany obesity.
Misconceptions About Child Obesity:
- Myths include that obesity is solely the result of overeating and lack of exercise or that parents are the only cause.
- Effective anti-obesity initiatives include school programs that monitor BMI and educate families.
- Psychological issues often present in obese children due to bullying.

Memory and Intellectual Growth:
- Information is processed via working memory and an evolving executive processor.
- Development of concrete operations and theory of mind capabilities are notable.
- School-related executive functions improve; rehearsal and selective attention skills enhance over time.
- Increased ability to inhibit impulses as socialization goals evolve.
Information-Processing Theory:
- To assist younger children: Use prompts, encourage physical activity & cooperative play.
- For children in middle childhood:
- Implement study skills and selective attention strategies.
- Teach organizational strategies for school and life.
- Note an expected difficulty with multitasking along with gradually reduced distractions.

Most commonly diagnosed childhood disorder, more prevalent in boys.
Linked with executive function deficits, often recognized during elementary school.
Genetic bases involve delayed frontal lobe maturation, lower dopamine output, and poor fit with their environment.
Treatment approaches include psycho-stimulant medications, parent training, and promoting exercise.

Emotion Regulation:
- Development of skills to control feelings; understanding self-esteem.
- Distinct internalizing (learned helplessness) and externalizing (denial of reality) tendencies.
- During middle childhood, self-esteem becomes a significant developmental issue.
- Harter identifies five domains linked to self-esteem: Scholastic competence, Behavioral conduct, Athletic skills, Peer likability, and Physical appearance.
Self-Esteem Distortion & Consequences:
- Externalizing children: May show aggressive behavior, fail to recognize need for improvement, and possess unrealistic self-esteem.
- Internalizing children: Often fearful, exhibit low self-esteem, read failure into experiences, and become discouraged.
Promoting Realistic Self-Esteem:
- Focus on enhancing self-efficacy and emphasizing effort can help build positive self-esteem.
- Informing about skills necessary for success while ensuring an efficacy-enhancing environment is crucial.
Morality in Development:
- Discussions around the natural propensity for being ethical and sensitive to others' emotions.
- Understanding of prosocial behavior involves sharing, helping, and caring, guided by empathy and sympathy.
Aggression:
- Types include proactive and reactive; rooted in frustration-aggression hypotheses.
- Strategies to mitigate aggressive behavior involve promoting prosocial skills and understanding emotional regulation.

Friendships:
- Critical role during middle childhood; friendships contribute to emotional management and conflict resolution.
- Friendships support well-being during this developmental stage.
Popularity vs. Friendship:
- Popularity often involves competition within peer groups and can be influenced by relational aggression.
- Types of children include popular, average, and rejected kids, influencing their social experiences.
Rejection & Bullying:
- Rejection occurs due to social mismatch, externalizing or internalizing issues.
- Bullying manifests as systematic mistreatment and can have profound impacts on emotional health.
- Counteracting bullying calls for understanding moral implications and promoting positive behaviors in peers.