1. School-Age children

2. School-age children Between ages 6 and 12 Grow taller and slimmer
Develop a more adult physique
Interested in learning
Reveal curiosity & intellectual development

3. Physical development
Grow 2-3 inches taller & 4-5 pounds heavier each year
6: constantly active, baby teeth begin to fall out
7 & 8: coordination improving, capable of smoother movements
9 & 10: narrowing their interests
11 & 12: girls grow faster in height & weight than boys their age
Start transitioning into adulthood

4. Intellectual Development
Ask more complex questions
Attention spans are lengthening
9 & 10 year old vocabularies grow to about words
11 & 12 year olds: 7200 words
Very talkative or others are quiet

5. School adjustments
Adjust to school environments & schedules fairly easily
School is part of their routine
Need an adequate breakfast to fuel their active lifestyle
Well balanced meals help them think and feel better
Children’s interest in schoolwork is often affected by their peer relationships
Homework is their responsibility
Parents responsibility to offer support

6. Emotional & social development
Become more socially independent
Choose own friends and friendships gain more importance to them
Groups activities among same gender are popular
Feel immense pressure to “fit in”
Likely to form own social groups at school or in neighborhood
Single out best friends
Emotions change as bodies change
Become more moody

7. Conformity Matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms
Ties with parents begin to loosen
Striving for greater independence
Begin trying new things
Music, clothing

8. Self-Care Children Coming home after school to empty homes
More parents are working than ever before
Dual career families
Single parent families
These children have to tend to their own needs until parents return home
Need to be self- sufficient

9. Children and Stress
Pretend you are a school-age child. List 6 examples of stress you might experience
Now pretend you are the parent of a school- age child. From the list above, describe how you would help your child deal with each stress.

10. Children & Stress Can be positive and negative
Good stress can challenge people
Distress (negative) –feelings of fear, hopelessness, worry, anxiety, doubt
Conflicts with others causes emotional stress
Poor health or unhealthy habits can create stress
Busy schedule, being too involved
Major life changes

11. Signs a child is under stress
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Explosive crying or screaming
Verbal or physical aggressiveness
Cruelty to pets & friends
Physical symptoms: rapid heartbeat, headaches, fatigue, restlessness, upset stomach, neck pain
Increased behaviors or acting out
Prolonged display of temper
Nightmares, sleep-walking, teeth-grinding in sleep
Loss of humor or sense of joy

12. Medical checkups
Routine medical visits are needed less frequency during this stage
Recommended checkups:
Age 6
Age 8
Age 10
Age 12
Need a physical exam for participating in sports
Schools require certain immunizations before school starts
Visit their dentists and eye doctors regularly