Periods of Development

Middle Childhood
There are many changes that occur during middle childhood ranging from increase in vocabulary and understanding to showing more responsibility and awareness. Since children in this group are in a more structured school environment, learning difficulties may become more present. Attachment issues in infancy and early childhood can lead to behavioral issues in this stage. Culturally children at this stage may begin to realize their culture is different than others around them, so introducing customs and other family traditions can be a great learning point. The chart below shows some of the developmental milestones at this stage Developmental Milestone Increasing running speed to 12 feet per second Increases throwing and kicking speed and accuracy Thinks in a more logical and organized fashion More effective spatial reasoning Communicates clearly in demanding situations Acquires meaning of new words from definitions and context clues Is aware of mixed feelings and that expressions may not reflect true feelings Emotional understanding and perspective taking improve Has a flexible capacity for moral self-regulation Internalized norms of good conduct (Berk, 2013) Type of Development Physical Physical Cognitive Cognitive Language Language Age of occurrence 5-6 years of age 7-12 years of age 7-11 years of age 7-11 years of age 6-10 years of age 6-10 years of age

Social-Emotional

7-11 years of age

Social-Emotional Moral Reasoning/SelfRegulation Moral Reasoning/SelfRegulation

7-11 years of age 6-11 years of age 6-11 years of age

Growth height and weight wise slows down a bit (and will speed back up in the adolescence stage).

(Developmental Psychology Image Bank) The previous development of a child will have an effect on development at this stage as well. Studies have shown that higher levels of quality child care was protective against the development of behavioral problems in African American children (both boys and girls) and male children (Votruba-Drzal et al, 2010).

Atypical development during this time period can include the discovery of learning disabilities. For example, a child who is having trouble with reading, writing and completing work may possibly suffer from dyslexia. Studies have been done to determine if testing practices can accurately determine at risk readers, which have shown positive result (Speece et al, 2010). Another sign of atypical development could be behavioral issues such as acting out, conduct issues and violence.

(The Upside of Dyslexia).

Review of Recommendations for Healthy Development Healthy diet Plenty of rest and exercise Providing of age/skill appropriate books Quality education Parents involvement with school work Social opportunities with all age ranges Freedom to explore Introduction to family/ethnic history

Resources Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Developmental Psychology Imagery Bank. http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/devel/ibank/midc.htm The Upside to Dyslexia. http://specialedpost.com/2012/07/01/the-upside-of-dyslexia/ Speece, D. L., Ritchey, K. D., Silverman, R., Schatschneider, C., Walker, C. Y., & Andrusik, K. N. (2010). Identifying Children in Middle Childhood Who Are at Risk for Reading Problems. School Psychology Review, 39(2), 258-276. Votruba-Drzal, E., Coley, R., Maldonado-Carreo, C., Li-Grining, C. P., & Chase-Lansdale, P. (2010). Child Care and the Development of Behavior Problems Among Economically Disadvantaged Children in Middle Childhood. Child Development, 81(5), 1460-1474. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01485.x