Physical Development in Middle and Late Childhood Children 11 Physical Development in Middle and Late Childhood

Skeletal and Muscular Systems What Changes Take Place in Body Growth, Brain, and Motor Development? Skeletal and Muscular Systems During elementary years, children grow 2-3 inches per year By age 11: girls and boys are about 4¾ ft Middle/late childhood: 5-7 lb weight gain per year (muscle and skeletal changes) Proportional physical changes greatest in middle/late childhood More bone ossification

The Brain Increased myelination Middle/late childhood What Changes Take Place in Body Growth, Brain, and Motor Development? The Brain Increased myelination Faster, effective processing of information Middle/late childhood Brain volume stabilization Prefrontal circuitry and pathways increase Significant changes in structures and regions Attention, reasoning, cognitive control Increased cortical thickness Synaptic pruning occurs

Motor Development Middle/late childhood: What Changes Take Place in Body Growth, Brain, and Motor Development? Motor Development Middle/late childhood: Smoother movement, better coordination Mastered skills become source of pleasure Boys usually better in gross motor skills Activity helps refine developing skills Hands used more as ‘tools,’ steadier by age 7 Age 8-10: more independent with hands Fine motor skills in writing develop Age 10-12: manipulative skills like adults

Nutrition Middle/late childhood: Average child’s body weight doubles What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Nutrition Middle/late childhood: Average child’s body weight doubles Food consumption increases with age Age 1-3: needs 1,300 calories per day Age 4-6: needs 1,700 calories per day Age 7-10: needs 2,400 calories per day (needs vary with size, activity level) Healthy, balanced meals, and eating patterns are most important

Exercise and Sports Exercise Children not exercising enough What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Exercise and Sports Exercise Children not exercising enough Less P.E. programs/involvement in school TV watching promotes sedentary lifestyles High-intensity resistance exercise Decreases body fat, lessens overweight risks Increases muscle strength Linked to important cognitive activity Opportunities, parental encouragement a must

Exercise and Sports Sports: What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Exercise and Sports Sports: Involvement of children increasing every year Positive consequences Healthy exercise, opportunities to learn, raises self-esteem, good peer relationships Negative consequences Pressure to win/achieve, physical injuries, academic work falters, too competitive, unrealistic expectations for athletic success

Parents’ Guide for Children Pros Exercise Opportunities to learn how to compete Self-esteem Setting for developing peer relations and friendships Cons Pressure to achieve, high stress created Physical injuries Distraction from academic work Exploitation Wrong values taught; win-at-all-costs

Overweight Children Overweight Increasing health problem in the U.S. What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Overweight Children Overweight Increasing health problem in the U.S. BMI used to measure children Worldwide: more children overweight Recently in U.S.: obesity leveling off Risk factor; the earlier the child is overweight, the more risk of obesity in adolescence

Overweight Children Factors linked to overweight childhood What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Overweight Children Factors linked to overweight childhood Genetics, heredity Environmental factors Availability of food and types Eating patterns and habits Cultural influences Parental supervision, attitudes Television watching, low activity behaviors

Overweight Children Consequences of overweight childhood What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Overweight Children Consequences of overweight childhood Risk of medical problems Pulmonary/airway obstruction, sleep apnea Bone, hip problems Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol Cardiovascular risk higher in low SES Risk of psychological problems Lower self-esteem, tired, less attractive Peer relations; rejection and withdrawal

Overweight Children Treatment: Activity levels are not hereditary What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Overweight Children Treatment: Combination of Diet, weight loss programs Exercise, calorie-burning activities Behavior modification, lifestyle changes Daily diary provides feedback, reinforcement Intervention programs vary Schools, parents are very important for change Activity levels are not hereditary

Diseases Four childhood diseases most harmful Cancer: Diabetes: What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Diseases Four childhood diseases most harmful Cancer: Child cancers attack all areas of body By age 19: 1 in 330 children in U.S. get cancer Little known about causes, possible genetics Diabetes: Type I and Type II Highest risk: obesity and Type II Ethnic groups at higher risk of diabetes

Types of Cancer in Children Leukemia Brain Lymphomas Neuroblastoma Bone Kidney Muscle Other 12% 39% 15% 10% 7% 6% 5%

Diseases Cardiovascular Disease What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Diseases Cardiovascular Disease Uncommon in children; inactive lifestyle ‘sows seeds’ for later development Link between obesity and hypertension Hyperactivity often undiagnosed in children Latino child at highest risk, Asian child at lowest risk Nutrition and balanced diet is prevention; lower sweets, salt, cholesterol, etc.

Diseases Asthma: Incidence has steadily increased over years What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Diseases Asthma: Incidence has steadily increased over years Affected by increased air pollution Most common childhood chronic disease Primary reason for missing school, ER visits Exact causes unknown; blames allergic reactions to environmental substances Treated with inhalers, medications Child may outgrow by late adolescence

Accidents and Injuries What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health? Accidents and Injuries Injuries: Middle/late childhood: leading cause of death Most common: motor vehicle accidents Serious injuries caused by sports equipment Most accidents occur near home or school Prevention strategies best Safety equipment, minimize risky behaviors, proper adult supervision

Who Are Children With Disabilities? What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Who Are Children With Disabilities? About 14% of U.S. children aged 3 to 21 Receive special education or related services 5.6% have learning disabilities 3.0% have speech, language impairments 1.1% diagnosed as mentally retarded 0.9% have emotional disturbance Educators prefer: Children with disabilities, not handicapped

Range of Disabilities U.S. gov’t defined in 1997; refined in 2004 What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities U.S. gov’t defined in 1997; refined in 2004 Learning disability Difficulty learning/understanding/using spoken or written language, may be math Not the result of visual/hearing/motor defect, mental retardation, emotional disorder, environmental/cultural/economic need Dramatic increase in incidence rates

Range of Disabilities Affects boys 3 times more than girls What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Affects boys 3 times more than girls May be referral bias Most disabilities are life long Children taught in regular classroom; extensive support needed to achieve competency level Can grow up to lead normal, productive lives Diagnosis is difficult task, guidelines vary Most common areas: reading, writing, math

Range of Disabilities Other types Causes Interventions What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Other types Dyslexia: reading and spelling Dysgraphia: handwriting difficulties Dyscalculia: math/number difficulty Causes Some unknown, unlikely a single cause Some from prenatal development, delivery Interventions Competent teachers, intensive programs

Range of Disabilities ADHD – diagnosis can vary What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities ADHD – diagnosis can vary Inattention, Hyperactivity, Impulsivity Not supposed to be diagnosed by schools Signs may be present in preschool age; usually not classified until elementary years More visible in stricter standard settings Symptoms tend to decrease in adulthood Treated with medications Causes suspected but not confirmed

Range of Disabilities Speech disorders Voice disorders What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Speech disorders Problems pronouncing sounds correctly Usually confirmed after age 8 Child limits communication, verbal interactions Speech therapy can treat, improve Voice disorders Voice pitch, fluency, or stuttering Speech therapy recommended

Range of Disabilities Sensory disorders Visual and hearing impairments What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Sensory disorders Visual and hearing impairments Visual; affects about 1 in 1,000 Corrective lenses can help Low vision (20/70 to 20/2000), and blind Educationally blind: about 1 in 3,000 children Has normal intelligence Preferential seating in classroom helps

Range of Disabilities Hearing impairments What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Hearing impairments Born deaf or experienced loss early in life Affects language/speech development Many children go undiagnosed Need things repeated Don’t follow instructions Frequently complain of ear aches, colds, etc. Evaluation by audiologist Do oral (lip reading) or manual (sign language)

Range of Disabilities Physical disorders What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Range of Disabilities Physical disorders Orthopedic impairments Cerebral palsy Emotional and behavioral disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders Asperger syndrome: mild autism Has average intelligence; restricted in range of interests and social interactions

Educational Issues Public Law 94-142 What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Educational Issues Public Law 94-142 1975: Education for All Handicapped Children Act 1990: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amended in 1997, reauthorized in 2004 Aligned with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Testing for progress, support service needs

Educational Issues Individualized Education Plan (IEP) What Are Prevalent Disabilities in Children? Educational Issues Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Program tailored to child’s specific needs Provides educational benefits Positive behavioral support, functional behavioral assessment Least restrictive environment (LRE) Inclusion, mainstream in regular classroom Teachers need specialized training

Educational Issues Minorities Fears African American children overrepresented in programs for learning disabilities Latino children may be underidentified in mental retardation and emotional disturbances Fears Students underserved, needs not met Misclassified or inappropriately labeled Class placement may be form of discrimination

11 The End