Developmental Psychology

Chapter 6: Middle Childhood

Overview In chapter 6, we will be looking at the physical, cognitive and social development during middle childhood. We will also be taking a look at the concerns that may arise during this stage of life. It may seem as if the previous chapters seem similar, the information that you see varies by age. Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: • Describe stages of physical development during middle childhood (Often called the School Years) • Understand what Piaget’s Concrete Operational Stage of Development is, and the key principles of logical operations • Explain the Information Processing Theory, metacognition, learning disabilities, and theories of intelligence • Describe social cognition, self-esteem, as well as howpeer and family relations influence social development 6.1 Physical Development Unlike during infancy and early childhood, growth begins to slow down. Keep in mind that usually growth occurs without having complications. Children during middle childhood tend to grow taller and slimmer. Their muscles will become stronger, and their capacity will increase. Slowing growth can be an advantage as it will allow for children to learn how to become more coordinated and develop fine motor skills. Physical activity becomes more extensive as children will exercise more and play community or school sports on a team. Doctors urge parents that exercise is vital during middle childhood. It is important to teach children how to exercise during their life, as it will help them deter from suffering health issues down the road; such as obesity. In recent years, more and more children have spent a majority of their time indoors, watching television and/or playing video games. This unfortunately has led to more and more children becoming obese. It is also said in addition to the physical health issues that can occur, psychological issues can occur as well. If a child is suffering from being obese, then there is an increased chance that the child will be bullied in school which will lead to depression and low self-esteem. By increasing the importance of exercise and healthy diets, as well as the increased awareness of the obesity problem, children may understand the potential risks of obesity. 6.2 Cognitive Development When children mature, there is an increase in myelination and synapses that will help children refine their behaviors as well as improving behaviors. Automaticity is increased due to the increase of myelination and synapses. It also leads to impulse control as well as selective attention. Selectiv

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