1. World of Children 1st ed Chapter 10 Physical Development
in Middle Childhood
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2. Middle Childhood Ages 7-11
bodies grow more slowly
physical skills increase in control and coordination.

3. Physical Growth
The average 7 yr old is 49 inches tall and weighs 55 lbs
The average 11 yr old is 58 inches tall and weighs 80 lbs
The average 9 yr old girl is the same size as the average 9 yr old boy but by age 11, girls are1 ½ inches taller and 8 lbs heavier. Boys will be taller and heavier by age 14.

4. Overweight Children
BMI: an indicator of body fat based on weight and height.
A child w/ BMI at or higher than 95% of all other children in the US of the same age/sex is considered to be overweight.

5. Overweight Children
Most frequent nutritional problem is being overweight aka obesity in adults!
Overweight: having body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for child’s age and sex
Children w/ BMI between 85th-95th percentiles are considered at risk of overweight.

6. Statistics 6-11 year olds 26 % of Mexican American boys
23 % of African American girls
are Overweight

7. What are some of the reasons that children are overweight?
Question
What are some of the reasons that children are overweight?

8. Reasons for being overweight
More fast food/processed foods in diets
Less physical activity
Poor role models (2/3 of adults are overweight)
Genetics (high birth weight), mom has diabetes, other family members who are overweight
Children living below the poverty line
Parent attitudes

9. Overweight Children
(National Center for Health Statistics, 2005.)

10. Overweight Children Being overweight is a risk factor for:
heart disease, diabetes, asthma, depression, low self esteem, sleep apnea
40% of overweight 4 yr olds will become obese adults
80% of overweight adolescents continue to be obese as adults

11. Discuss in groups
What are some ways we can help children combat their weight problems?

12. Tips to Combating Overweight Issues
1. Offer nutritious meals and snacks such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, whole grains.
2. Set appropriate limits on children’s food limits. Help children monitor their choices.
3. Limit T.V. and video games to 2 hours a day.
4. Encourage more physical activity.
5. Be a good role model for your children.

13. Brain Growth and Development
Brain goes through 2 phases of growth and maturation
synaptogenesis: overproduction of neurons and synapses
Synaptic pruning: cutting of less useful circuits to keep the ones that are more efficient.

14. Brain Growth and Development
By age 6, child’s brain is 90% of its adult size
Up to age 10, cerebral cortex still growing (gray matter that forms the top portion of the brain)
After age 10, brain shrinks in some areas – pruning takes place in occipital, parietal and temporal lobes – results in more efficiency in brain functions

15. Brain Growth and Development
Pruning is an important part of the maturation process in the brain
Areas in the brain that are pruned actually improve that specific area
Occipital lobe (visual signals)
Parietal & Temporal lobe ( language, thought process)
50% of circuits for fine motor movements

16. Gross Motor Fine Motor Improvements in: throwing catching kicking
running
Improvements in: writing
drawing
playing musical instruments
video games

17. Motor Development
Gross-motor and fine-motor skills become more controlled and coordinated during middle childhood.
Overall strength improves
Balance and flexibility increase
Increasing coordination of skills – putting it all together

18. Boys Girls Stronger Increase in strength throughout adolescence
at 10 flexibility decreases
Strength evens out in early adolescence
flexibility declines at age 12.

19. Physical activity and exercise
Regular exercise has physical and emotional benefits, yet many children do not get enough, if they get any.
Only 28% of schools require daily PE classes.

20. Why are children not getting enough exercise?
Question
Why are children not getting enough exercise?

21. increased time watching TV
playing video games
lack of opportunities
lack of safe play space

22. Organized sports
About 30 million children participate in some sport each year
Benefits
Physical
strength
balance
coordination
Social
teamwork
cooperation
sportsmanship
Emotional
self esteem
school success
positive body image

23. Why don’t all children participate?
Organized sports
Why don’t all children participate?

24. cost
transportation
potential for injuries
attitudes of coaches and parents

25. Childhood injuries
12 million children under age 12 seen in emergency rooms every year
falls, cuts, bike accidents, dog bites
Causes of accidental death in middle childhood
car accidents, drowning, burns, bike accidents

26. Safety Tips

27. Child Sexual Abuse
fondling, intercourse or other sex acts, exposing a child to sex acts, involving a child in pornography
Overall rate has decreased since early 1990’s
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 9 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before age 18

28. Child Sexual Abuse
occurs in all ethnic, geographic and economic groups
more common in middle childhood and adolescence
likely to be committed by someone child knows
on average, continues for 4 years
50% of abusers are adolescents

29. Child Sexual Abuse Risk Factors unhealthy family environment
marital disruption
individual factors
socially isolated children
early developing
gay and lesbian teens

30. Child Sexual Abuse

31. Child Sexual Abuse Effects vary depending on: when it began
how often it happened
how long it went on
was physical force involved?
was the abuser a close relative?
what was mother’s reaction?

32. Child Sexual Abuse
Continued abuse causes high levels of stress hormones, like cortisol, in brain.
High levels of cortisol damage hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and cerebellum.
Victims are more likely to overreact to fearful situations

33. Child Sexual Abuse Symptoms depression
increased sexual behavior in all ages
drug and alcohol abuse in teens
PTSD
issues with relationships and sexuality as adults

34. Children with exceptional needs…
Children who require help beyond what is needed by peers
1 in 5 children suffer serious developmental, emotional or behavioral problem

35. Children with exceptional needs…
Rarely identify the exact cause of any disorder in a particular child
Almost every case there are multiple causes or conditions
Most experts look at childhood problems from…
developmental psychopathology perspective: emphasis is on variety of factors that can influence both normal and abnormal paths of development
Factors are:
genetics
parental and familial interactions
education quality
peers
other social and cultural elements

36. How to measure conditions
Prevalence rate : how often a condition occurs
No hard #s in prevalence rates WHY?
Adults think that the child will “outgrow” the problem
Comorbidity : having more than one disorder
40% of children w/ADHD have another disorder

37. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
inability to sustain attention
excessive activity
low impulse control
Signs emerge before age 7 and persist into adolescence and adulthood
4 to 6 % of children meet clinical definition
3 times more boys than girls

38. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Causes - research points to genetics
problems in brain’s frontal lobes (which are responsible for attention, self-control)
- has also been linked to lead exposure and alcohol/tobacco exposure before birth

39. Family conflict common when child has ADHD
More marital conflict
Higher separation/divorce rates
Consume more alcohol
Mother likely to be more depressed
Significant difficulty in school
¼ expelled from school
35% are retained 1 grade level
Up to 30% drop out of school

40. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Treatment
stimulant medications – Ritalin, Cylert
anti-depressants
behavior management programs
combination of above

41. Communication and Learning Disorders
Communication disorders : children have difficulty in producing speech, using speech to communicate, or understanding others’ speech
Learning disorders (disabilities) : children have difficulty with specific skills, like reading, math, or writing
Children show average or above average intelligence in other areas

42. Communication and Learning Disorders

43. Communication and Learning Disorders
Causes
often undiagnosed
strong genetic component - related to abnormalities in brain function
Treatment
children may outgrow some and learn to compensate for others
educational support at school helps
counseling and therapy help with self-esteem issues

44. Autism Spectrum Disorders
a group of serious developmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication
range of severity from mild (Asperger syndrome) to severe (autism)

45. Autism Spectrum Disorders
Repetitive body motions
Self stimulation (rocking bodies, flapping)
Need daily routine
Show exceptional skills (memory for music, speed in building puzzles)
Echolalia: repeating words w/out understanding them.

46. Autism Spectrum Disorders

47. Autism Spectrum Disorders
affect 1 to 6 out of every 1000 children in US
4 times more common in boys
increased rates of identification, due to change in how ASD is diagnosed

48. Autism Spectrum Disorders
Causes
strong genetic component
may be some environmental factors – not determined yet
Treatment
depends on severity
focus on teaching various self help, social and language skills

49. Educating children with exceptional needs
all children entitled to free and appropriate public school education – US PL
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) : required for all children who are identified as needing special services – outlines services needed and goals for instruction
Law also requires that children be educated in “least restrictive environment”

50. Educating children with exceptional needs