Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

"They grow so fast" is the constant lament of the parent with school age children. Children in middle childhood (ages seven through 12) first begin to show characteristics of the adults that they are destined to become. During middle childhood, kids grow and learn rapidly, become more active in play and socialization, and begin refining their language skills, often using them to express their strengthening individuality.

Physical Growth

• Through middle childhood, children tend to grow steadily, gaining 2 to 3 inches per year. Boys' and girls' size and growth tend to be quite similar on average during this time period. Legs and arms will grow longer, and torsos will become thinner with overall body fat steadily decreasing. Through middle childhood, kids will approximately double in strength

Motor Skills

• Throughout middle childhood, kids will learn to ride bikes, hit baseballs, throw and catch frisbees, skateboard, skip rope and shoot a basketball, evidence of strong development in gross motor skills. Their writing will become more legible, and they will show increasing dexterity and detail in their drawings. Learning musical instruments becomes possible thanks to advances in their fine motor skills.

Language

• If you are around a group of seven to 12 year olds, you may have trouble getting a word in edgewise. Children at this age are learning the art of conversation and tend to practice it a lot. Language arts also develops as children learn to compose more complex sentences and begin grouping their ideas logically and hierarchically.

Socialization

• Conflicts with parents begin to multiply in middle childhood as children begin to express more of their individuality. A growing sense of what is right and wrong in the world can often lead to acts of rebellion. Parents themselves often have trouble adjusting to their children's new-found independence, exacerbating the problem. With peers, school age children struggle with social pressures, worry about acceptance by groups and begin to bond with particular individuals, identifying those they are closest with as "best friends" and distinguishing them from the larger group.

Potential Health Problems

• Obesity rates among school age children are an increasing problem. Children who are obese not only suffer greater physical troubles, but report being depressed and can have more behavioral problems. Myopia is also an issue in school age children, affecting as many as 25 percent of them. The increased activity of children in this age group can result in more injuries. Asthma can show up at this age and is the most frequent cause of school absence.