Middle Childhood

Question 1

Physical development - how fast do they grow?

Answer 1

–If properly nourished, children grow 2-3” a year & gain about 5-8 pounds a year, between 6-12

Question 1

Obesity in children

Answer 1

• -Most common nutritional problem for children in America
• -In past 3 decades, number of overweight children and adolescents has tripled
• -CDCP estimates that 1/3 of US youth 2-19 are overweight.

Question 2

Physical Development - middle childhood

Answer 2

• -Brief period late in middle childhood when girls become heavier and taller than boys
• -Girls growth spurt occurs approximately 2 years earlier than boys

Question 3

Obesity-related health problems in children

Answer 3

• -Type II diabetes
• -Bone and joint problems
• -sleep apnea
• -cardiovascular disease

Question 4

Factors influencing childhood obesity

Answer 4

• -Overeating
• -Genetic predisposition
• -Parents who themselves have eating and nutritional problems
• -Inactivity - sedentary lifestyle
• -Schools: play a critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment that supports healthy behaviors; provides opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors

Question 5

Cognitive Development - Piaget’s Third Stage

Answer 5

Concrete Operational Stage

Question 6

Concrete Operational Stage characteristics

Answer 6

• -Ability to conserve
• -Understand class inclusions
• -Understand numbers and ordering in sequence
• -Thinking is still concrete (bound to real world)

Question 7

Social Development – Which of Erikson’s stages is this?

Answer 7

Erickson’s fourth stage - Industry vs. Inferiority

Question 8

The two approaches to self-esteem

Answer 8

James’s Approach to Self-Worth

Cooley’s Approach to Self-Worth

Question 9

James’s approach to self-worth

Answer 9

Self-worth is a direct function of the difference between what I would like to be and what I think I am

Question 10

Cooley’s approach to self-worth

Answer 10

Self-worth is a direct function of what I think others think of me

Question 11

Self-worth research by Harter

Answer 11

• -with 8 - 13 year olds
• -Take’s more of James’ approach:
• -Scholastic competence
• -Athletic competence
• -Physical appearance
• -Behavioral conduct
• -What significant other people think is also critical, especially parents and classmate (Cooley’s approach)

Question 12

View of friendship changes between 5 and 12

Answer 12

• -5 year old assumes that to be friends it is only necessary to play together
• -12 year old believes that to become friends it is necessary to know each other - to share thoughts & feelings. To develop trust & assistance, depend on them to keep promises and to step forward in times of need

Question 13

Middle childhood friendship facts

Answer 13

• -Children usually have several close friends vs. one best friend
• -6-11% of elementary aged children have no friends
• -Peer group becomes increasingly important

Question 14

Gottman study

Answer 14

Based on 113 children
Found 5 categories of Social Status:
–Sociometric Stars: well like by most
–Mixers: high peer interaction; some liked, some not
–Teacher Negatives: typically in conflict with teachers; some well-liked, others not
–Tuned Out: Not involved, ignored rather than rejected
–Rejectees: Not like by others, rejected, butt of cruel jokes

Question 15

Hymel’s Categories of Social Status

Answer 15

• -similar to Gottman’s:
• -Popular children: Liked by many classmates
• -Rejected children: Disliked by many classmates
• -Controversial children: Both liked and disliked by classmates
• -Average children: LIked and disliked, but without the intensity found for popular, rejected or controversial children
• -Neglected children: Ignored by classmates

Question 16

Bullying - basic facts

Answer 16

• -Most children are targets of occasional aggressive acts
• -Some children are chronic targets of bullying
• -Three types: physical agression; relational aggression; electronic

Question 17

Television viewing

Answer 17

• -Preschoolers spend more than a third of their waking time watching television
• -By 18, many children will have spent 50% more time watching TV than going to school and doing schoolwork combined.
• -School-age children spend 20 - 25 hours each week watching TV

Question 18

Television viewing & violence

Answer 18

• -studies show television violence does increase viewer aggression
• -Text cites research that supports the idea that TV violence has a long-term impact on aggression, particularly boys
• -Another possible side effect of violence on television is the instillation of fear in some children

Question 19

Positive effects of television

Answer 19

• -Language development of preschoolers can be significantly improved with educational television
• -Pro-social behaviors can be improved through wholesome programming

Question 20

Regulating TV viewing

Answer 20

• -Children need rules concerning the amount of TV and types of programs they watch
• -Children should not watch TV as an answer to boredom
• -Adults should watch TV with children and discuss the programs
• -Parents need to be good TV viewers themselves

Question 21

Child Maltreatment - statistics

Answer 21

• -In 1991, 1 million substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect cases.
• -By 1994, the number of cases had risen to 1.2 million
• -Approximately 1 million children annually suffer maltreatment and neglect
• -3 million reported
• -A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds
• -Child abuse occurs at any economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and all levels of education

Question 22

Nature of Maltreatment

Answer 22

• -Physical abuse: difficulty in defining. Shaken Baby syndrome is a specific kind of physical abuse. It is the most common cause of death among physically abused infants.
• -Physical neglect: Acts of omission rather than commission, like inadequate nourishment, shelter or clothing
• -Medical Neglect: 25,000 cases in the US in 1994
• -Emotional Abuse: Shaming, blaming, ridiculing, and isolating are examples. The effects are often invisible, therefore it is seldom reported but no less devastating.
• -Sexual Abuse: Sexual behaviors that are forced upon a child, may also include propositioning, exhibitionism, etc. Victims are primarily female and often very young.