Middle Childhood Fact Sheet: from 6 to 11 years

Many physical changes occur during middle childhood. An interesting fact about
physical growth during this stage is that it does not all happen at the same time. The following is
said in regards to this, Growth of various body parts occurs at different rates; lower half of body
grows faster; arms and legs appear long and out of proportion (Marotz & Allen, 2013, Pg. 193).
Another important milestone that children will reach during middle childhood is losing all baby
teeth. Loses remaining baby teeth; overcrowding might occur when larger, permanent teeth
erupt into a yet small jaw (Marotz & Allen, 2013, Pg. 193). It is at the end of this stage or
beginning of adolescence that we begin to see children with braces to correct the overcrowding
of permanent teeth.
During middle childhood children will be able to reach an important milestone that I
believe all parents long for, the ability to express what they feel. The following is said in regards
to this, Expresses feelings and emotions effectively through words (Martoz & Allen, 2013, Pg.
194). During this stage there is no more guessing of what is wrong with your child. Children
can now use their extensive vocabulary and understanding of it in order to explain themselves
appropriately. Another important language milestone that will be reached during this stage is the
ability to recognize that some words have double meaning. (Marotz & Allen, 2013) This can be
an important milestone for children to reach because there are several words in the English
language that have more than one meaning. This will also help them when reading and coming
across these words with double meanings.
Cognition is also another major area of development during middle childhood. These
children begin to think more like adults rather than children. Our class text states the following
about children in middle childhood, Thinks in a more organized, logical fashion about concrete
information, as indicated by gradual master of Piagetian conservation, class inclusion, and
seriation problems, including transitive inference (Berk, 2013, Pg. 253). Another important
milestone that children will reach during middle childhood comes in terms of their spatial
thinking and reasoning. For example, middle childhood aged child, Displays more effective
spatial reasoning, as indicated by ability to construct well-organized cognitive maps and give
clear directions (Berk, 2013, Pg. 253). We see more and more project during these years where
children are expected to give directions of their work. Maps are often used and children are
expected to understand them and follow them appropriately. A child may also be expected to
draw a map with specific directions to reach a certain location. Children in middle childhood
years will definitely begin to show great advancement in their cognitive development.
An example of atypical development during middle childhood can be observed through a
simple task, that of sorting. Our class text states the following, Between ages 7 and 10, children
pass Piagets class inclusion problem. This indicates that they are more aware of classification
hierarchies and can focus on three relations at once (Berk, 2013, Pg. 250). If a child is asked to
sort certain objects, by size, color, shape, etc. they should be able to do so. It is also common for
children in the stage of middle childhood to have collections such as stamps, coins, and rocks.
(Berk, 2013) These children will spend much time sorting their collection items over and over
using different sorting methods.

Teachers and parents play an important role in influencing children in order to meet
various developmental milestones. This is a particular strategy that can be used in order to
promote language and literacy development during middle childhood, Adults can encourage
children in games such as Scrabble where literacy skills can be practiced in a playful mode
(Frost, Wortham, & Reifel, 2011, Pg. 191). I think this is an amazing strategy. Children are
playing a game, yet they are learning through this fun activity. Games such as scrabble are great
during middle childhood because the children are moving from beginner to more advanced levels
of reading and writing.

References
Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Frost, J., Wortham, S., & Reifel, S. (2011) Play and child development. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Merrill/Prentice-Hall.
Marotz, L. R. & Allen, K. E. (2013). Developmental profiles: Pre-birth through adolescence
(7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.