Childhood 4-10 years

Objectives At the end of this session the student should be able to: Describe the PIES relating to this age group Explain the difference between Primary and Secondary Socialisation Identify and explain the positive and negative influences on child development.

What is childhood? For the purpose of the assignment we will look at up to the age of 10 years.

Physical Growth The child continues to grow steadily but at a less rapid rate than in infancy. Growth can be monitored on a centile chart for height and weight. At 6 years of age a child’s head is almost adult size. Gross and fine motor skills become more refined.

ActivityGross motor skills Fine motor skills Both Tying shoes Making and decorating a cake Playing football Build a tower of blocks Play a musical instruments Throwing a ball gymnastics

Intellectual growth At 4 years of age a child should be talking in full sentences. The speech should develop rapidly and by 6 the child should have established speech patterns and use adult speech

Between the ages of 2 and 7 the children learn to count. To begin with, this is just copying speech with no meaning or logic. Speech may have immaturities such as ‘lellow’ ‘gween’ ‘wed’ for yellow, green and red. This will usually correct with time and use of modelling correct speech.

Play Children learn through play. Research the work of Jean Piaget. What did he believe? What are the 4 stages of development?

Emotional development Friends become important to this age group and establishing peer relationships. Good behaviour is seen when children realise it pleases others – they start to become more self aware. Loyalty, trust and respect are important They have a sense of fairness – right and wrong Rules and boundaries are also important

Socialisation Primary socialisation occurs at this age. Socialisation is about learning the values and normal behaviour of a group – it is all about ‘fitting in’. Primary socialisation occurs in the home. Secondary socialisation occurs in teenage years.

Maslow Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of needs’ suggests: That unless the lower tiers of needs are met that the person can not progress to full self actualisation, their optimum or ‘best’. Young children rely on their carers to meet their needs initially but gradually become more independent.

Right and Wrong This is influenced by the culture the child lives in. Kolberg talked about the 6 stages of moral thinking Punishment and obedience Individualism and Fairness Relationships Law and Order Rights and principles

Further Reading Health and Social Care BTEC first