Chapter 8: Development in Middle Childhood

Development Milestones Middle Childhood: 5-11 years Steady development physically, cognitively, and with motor skills Triarchic Theory of Intelligence Componential Intelligence – Focuses on how people process and analyze Experiential Intelligence – Based on how people perform tasks Contextual Intelligence – Stresses the practical side of a person’s intelligence Multiple Intelligences – People may be competent in many areas Intelligence Quotient (IQ) – Measure of intelligence calculated by dividing a person’s mental age by his or her chronological age Society tends to rely upon standardized tests to determine intellectual abilities Standardized tests do not take into account cultural differences, various learning styles, and learning disabilities that people may have

Development Milestones Learning Disabilities: Difficulties among children to intellectually perform normal or above, and who do not show any signs of developmental disability Dyslexia – Flipping or swapping of alphabet characters, resulting in severe reading and spelling difficulties Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – Condition in which the child shows above normal inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Anxiety Disorders: 3 – 4% children have a generalized anxiety disorder Social Anxiety Disorder Separation Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

The Family and Immediate Environment Peers and peer groups become an important role in children’s development Interaction with one another provide children with reference points, information from another’s point of view, and the ability to learn to socialize with others Categories of Play: Unoccupied Solitary Onlooker Parallel Associative Cooperative Through play, children practice various roles, develop skills, identify solutions to problems, and exercise imagination

The Family and Immediate Environment Parental Discipline: May be easier for parents because children are better able to understand rules and consequences Fine balance between discipline at home, school, and other environments such as a religious setting Parenting styles vary drastically, and parents may feel overwhelmed with information on the “best” parenting techniques Corporal Punishment – Physical punishment Debates about the line between discipline and abuse often result in new laws

The Family and Immediate Environment Alternative Family Forms: Separation and divorce are more common today than even a generation ago A child may be impacted by the separation of his or her parents Children can see the stress parents may feel about separation or divorce Child’s age and development partially determine how the child will react What are the child’s coping abilities? Parents going through separation should: Maintain open and respectful communication with children Ensure children understand they are not to blame Maintain a consistent daily routine Support the children Be realistic but hopeful

The Family and Immediate Environment Alternative Family Forms: Stepfamilies: Blending families may face adjustment difficulties New roles, rules, and responsibilities Single Parent or Cohabiting households: Over 50% of all U.S. births are to single women under 30 Children exhibit more frequent behavioral, mental health, and learning problems Children’s problems may not be directly related to parenting stressors Gay and Lesbian Parents: Hot debate and ethical dilemmas Children and parents may face discrimination Using technological advances to create a child may impact the child’s self-concept throughout multiple developmental stages

The Larger Social Environment Mass Media: Children in the U.S. watch an average of 28 hours of television/week Children spend an average of 44.5 hours/week on various forms of technology Development may be impacted by use of technology, and the violence children may observe through media Research has concluded that witnessing violent acts through media has adverse effects on a child’s behavior Children may not have the mental capacity to decipher “make believe” and acting from reality Increasing rates of childhood obesity may be attributed to children’s drop in physical activity as children spend more time sitting using media

The Larger Social Environment Education: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Law decreeing that all children with disabilities will have access to free and appropriate education Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) – The setting of education for children with disabilities should be similar and equal to the educational setting of other students Mainstreaming – Including children with disabilities in regular classroom settings and activities. Public school systems may have issues such as poor student achievement, inadequate or unstable funding, and low academic standards School Vouchers – Certificates that allow parents to pay for schools of the parent’s choosing, rather than sending children to inadequate schools