Middle Childhood Development Flashcards
Middle childhood includes which ages?
6-12
In terms of cognitive development, what happens to the thinking abilities of children during this period?
become more flexible, logical, and organized
Processing speed increases
Working memory, attention and executive function improve
What is the relationship between SES, genetics and IQ?
Genes play a larger role in determining IQ if you are from a high SES home
Genes play less of a role in determining IQ if child is from a low SES home
When does a child’s IQ become stable?
around 6 years - can be used to correlate with academic achievement
What happens to children’s vocabulary during middle childhood? How many new words do they learn a day?
Increases 4x - learn about 20 new words a day.
How does reading contribute to vocabulary growth in children during middle childhood?
21 minutes of independent reading a day = exposure to 2 million new words in a year
What is pragmatics?
the application of language to communicate
What is typical of children’s self concept during this period?
Are able to describe themselves by personality traits (both positive and negative) and compare themselves to peers
What changes in peer relationships between preschoolers and kids in middle childhood
- better at resolving conflict/compromising/sharing
- have a strong desire to be in a group
- develop friendships based on trust
- friendships are more selective and similar to themselves
What developments occur in the domain of gross motor skills?
GM skills become more complex due to improves flexibility, balance, and force
What is a key fine motor development during this period?
Penmanship develops
- children are able to write using their wrists and fingers as opposed to incorporating the whole arm
What changes can be seen in drawing ability during middle childhood?
- increased organization, detail, and depth
- able to draw in 3D around age 8
How may children live in poverty in canada?
1.3 million
