Stages of Development: Middle Childhood

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Childhood is the most precious time of a person’s life, full of new discoveries and observations about the world around them. Children learn to become independent and take care of themselves. Their curious eyes explore everything around them and they absorb knowledge from their parents and their teachers. They also learn to make friends and learn how to share with one another. As children get older, they learn how to bond with others in school and become more involved with sports and learning how to be in a group setting. Middle childhood is when children are between the ages of 6 to 12 years of age. They are learning the foundations of forming friendships, learning morals, and being active members at school and at home. During middle childhood, children go through physical, emotional, cognitive, and affective changes that help them define themselves as individuals and how parents can promote their child’s growth and development during this stage of life. During middle childhood, children are experiencing physical changes as they go from early childhood to middle childhood. Zembar and Blume (2009) write that, “School-age children undergo rapid spurts in height and weight as well as improvement in athletic abilities. They begin the onset of puberty at varied ages, with 11 years the average age for girls and 13 years for boys, marked first by hormonal changes, followed by observable changes in physical appearance and behavior”(Zembar & Blume,2009). Also during this time, children experience puberty which may be a new experience for them. Parents can encourage a positive transition through puberty by helping their child feel comfortable about the changes by talking with them about puberty and helping them adjust. Along with ph... ... middle of paper ... ... skills they need to survive and flourish into adulthood. Works Cited: Fox, April. (2011). School-age activities with socio-emotional skills. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/way_6167629_school_age-activities-socio_emotional-skills.html N/A, . (2011). Middle childhood. Retrieved from http://www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/mc/1.html Skuse, David. (2003). Child psychology and psychiatry: an introduction. Abindton, Oxfordshire, UK: Medicine Publishing Company Limited. Wertlieb, Donald. "Child." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011.Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar110700&st=middle+childhood+development&sc=1#h4 Zembar, M.J, & Blume, L.B. (2011). Developmental milestones in middle childhood. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/developmental-milestones-middle-childhood/

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