Lecture 7: Middle Childhood

Question 1

Characterise the development/ improvement in height/ weight, gross and fine motor coordination

Answer 1

Steady growth in height and weight until 12, there is a pick up, girls faster than boys.
Steady improvement in both motor coordinations

Question 2

What are the main factors that impact Social emotional development

Answer 2

Personal: (genetic, cognitive abilities, self esteem)

Contextual: (quality of attachment, parenting style, peer environment)

Question 3

Compare Erikson’s theory of development with Piaget

Answer 3

Erikson - interplay with what brain is ready for and what is happening in society. 8 sequential stages of development with differing outcomes which can influence the next stage
Piaget - also sequential stages progression dependent on maturation of nervous systems mostly as well as experiences

Question 4

What is Erikson’s stage of development associated with primary school years

Answer 4

Industry vs Inferiority-> child seeks mastery at school, level of success affects self esteem

Question 5

What is Piaget’s stage of cognitive development associated with primary school years

Answer 5

Concrete operations: using logical principles to solve problems, limited abstract thinking, conformity to rules, reasoning and conceptual skills

Question 6

What are major developments in social and moral thinking at primary school

Answer 6

Through friendships, developing:

• impulse control
• empathy
• incorporation of beliefs and values of culture
• moral development
• teamwork, negotiating groups and rules.

Question 7

What causes the difference in conception of death in children as they age

Answer 7

Understanding is linked to childs cognitive and developmental stage, not improved by previous experience

Question 8

What is childs understanding of illness/death at 0-2 years

Answer 8

Cannot distinguish self and external world, so experiences death as separation/abandonment.
Don’t have verbal memory for understanding illness

Question 9

What is childs understanding of illness at 2-6 years vs 7-10

Answer 9

Concrete and egocentric thinking

• difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy
• illness beliefs focusing on contagion and phenomenism
• illness or treatment seen as punishment

7-10
Capacity to think logically and keep sequence of events
-illness caused by food or contamination
-cured by simple concrete means

Question 10

What is childs understanding of deaths at 3-6 years vs 6+

Answer 10

Death is temporary and reversible

• magical thinking regarding causes
• seen as separation or going to another place, non functionality not understood.

Later: Death is reversible, everyone dies at some stage, start to understand non functionality

Question 11

What are some family influences which impact the development of child

Answer 11

• Hostile or rejecting parent-child relationship
• Harsh or inconsistent discipline
• Ineffective parental/ adult monitoring

Question 12

What are the wider social/community influences on development

Answer 12

Poverty, social disadvantage, racial discrimination, bullying, safe communities for children, media, natural disasters.

Question 13

What is the effect of chronic illness in children

Answer 13

• 2-3x increase in psychiatric disorder
• interference in academic and peer relationships
• impact on self esteem.

Question 14

As doctors important to hear their views and worries and give age appropriate explanations.
Also important to screen for cognitive social, emotional difficulties how?

Answer 14

H:ome- conduct, general behaviour manageability
E:ducation- progress and behaviour at school
A:ctivities -attention span/ finishing ability
R:elationships - parents/peers, bullying
T:emper - tantrums , mood
S:ize- appetite, weight gain/loss