Middle Childhood Ages 6-11

Physical Development in Middle Childhood

Children in this age range are apt to become more physically active as well as social active
with their peers. Strength and muscle coordination improve rapidly in these years. Many children
learn to throw, hit a baseball, or kick a soccer ball. Some children may even develop skills in
more complex activities, such as playing basketball or dancing. Siervoge, et al., (2000) explains
that girls around the age of eight years old start to add more fatty tissue on their arms, legs, and
trunk; they continue to do so throughout puberty, while the that and leg fat of adolescent boys
decreases.
While these differences are very visually evident, the children are growing at a normal and
typical rate. As mentioned throughout the earlier stages of development the childrens bodies go
through these changes progressively to adapt to their age and capabilities at each of the stages.
According to Berk (2013); as children grow they revise each skill as their bodies grow larger
and stronger, their central nervous systems become better developed, their interests and goals
become clearer, and their environments present new challenges (p. 178).
All of these changes increase the childs ability to regulate their gross motor skills as well.
Children while still growing are able to better perfect their skills that they have acquired through

all of the earlier stages in life. This is giving the child a chance to practice the physical gains that
will also encourage the changes that they will go through in adolescence later in life.
The best way to describe childrens physical development would be to reflect on the findings
of what is described by Ong, Ahmed, & Dunger (2006) as secular trends. Over the last 150
years, secular trends in physical growth changes in body size from one generation to the next.
This has occurred in many industrialized nations including the U.S. It is stated that most
children today are taller, heavier, and mature at faster rates than their parents and grand-parents
did in their childhood.
It is also important to stress that pubertal development in boys and girls will also change often
times throughout this stage of life. This is best explained the graph chart of Berk (2013 p.204).
This explains that girls between the ages of eight years old and adolescent years may begin to
develop more quickly. Boys are estimated to be between ages nine through adolescence when
they begin to mature.
Language Development
At this stage in life children have learned most that they will learn about language and how to
use it, read it, and write it. The biggest development for language at this part of life is whether or
not they want to use it. A child in this area of life may begin to keep themselves self-confided,
and choose not to express their feelings or ideas as they are still trying to find who they are and
what their interests are.

Keeping in good language and communication with the child will encourage them to
continue to stay open and verbally communicate their feelings and thoughts throughout this stage
of development. Keeping in mind that the child is finding new social groups and may even find
new ways of technological communications through internet or phones; a childs perspective of a
good old conversation may alter in this stage.
Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
Based on Piagets theory of the concrete operational stage ages seven eleven years old;
thoughts will become more logical, flexible, and organized; closely resembling thoughts and
reasoning of adults(Berk, 2013). Piaget felt that children in this developmental stage can
become more organized and equip to become better at problem solving skills. This applies as
well to the special skills that the child is achieving. This indicates that children are not only to
think more clearly but to perform more complex tasks. Piaget also felt that young children are
not able to reach the operations stage, or mental representations of actions that obey logical rules.
Rather, their thinking rigid and limited to the here and now in their world. This is claimed to
cognitively mature in the preoperational stage.

This is also examined by Miller, & Bigi (1979) that; Children that are school aged have a
more complex grasp of cognitive processes. Six and seven year olds for example; know that
doing well on a task demands that they pay attention, concentrate and exert effort. It is further
stated that their concept of using sources of knowledge also expands in this area of cognitive
development.
Atypical Development for Middle Childhood
While watching your child to continue to develop through the middle childhood years; it is
imperative to know that the child is undergoing many changes physically, emotionally and
cognitively. These are also years that the child will be learning many more things academically
in school and socially among peers. Some atypical developments may include things such as not
being able to comprehend problem solving skills, or struggling more in school. There may need
to be assistive instruction to help the child through these learning processes to be successful in
school and social settings.
Physical development issues could include obesity or as opposite being under developed
physically. These areas could cause issues with health, self-esteem or even depression in the
developmental areas for the child.
Strategies that can influence Childrens Development in Middle Childhood
As with raising any child their well-being is always a priority. As a child reaches the middle
childhood phase and begins to enter adolescence and adulthood; It is important to remember that
as stated by Berk (2013); identity development also depends greatly on schools and

communities that offer rich and varied opportunities for exploration (p. 474). This would also
imply that we as parents need to be aware of what the children are involved in and always try to
encourage open communications between you and your child. These years of question for the
child in self-identification as well as sexual orientation of what they feel they are interested in for
life could have already become areas of confusion for the child along with the onset of puberty.
Play based strategies to help children gains stronger abilities through Middle Childhood
Children in this stage of development are gaining cognitively and physically. Although sports
and other physical activities are beneficial to the youth at this stage there are other fun ways that
become very beneficial to their development as well. There are educational games that children
can play on computers and other technological equipment that can enhance the childs abilities.
Some examples would be such as:
Map snap- puzzle games that help children learn about states and countries along with color
coordination.
Z-type- this game allows for children to learn to spell, while typing and improving their problem
solving skills while placing the words in correct spaces on the screen.
These games and many more can be found at: http://www.coolmath-games.com/

Family activities and physical exercise can also be a great way to help your child develop
appropriately and healthy. Activities such as going on family hiking trips or bike rides can be a
fun and physical activity for you all to enjoy. We can also turn this into an educational
experience by searching for objects to use to create a collage to reflect back on later. There are
also other ideas such as trips to the zoo or museums as a family and at this stage of socially
developing allowing the child to invite some friends will also give you the opportunity to see
who your child is associating with as well as learning more about your childs social interests.