How Much Do Children Grow in Middle Childhood?

According to Robert Feldman's book, "Development Across the Life Span," middle childhood encompasses the age span between 6 and 12 years. The developmental process of middle childhood is, on average, slow and steady. Height and weight changes are obvious, while thinking, self-esteem and spiritual growth progress in meaningful but less measurable ways.

Height

• Children may grow more than 14 inches from the ages of 6 to 12.

  Boys and girls start out this growth period at roughly the same height. The average 6-year- old child, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control growth charts, is about 45.5 inches tall. Feldman says that most elementary children in the United States grow about 2 to 3 inches every year. By the time they are 12, most children have reached 60 inches (or 5 feet). That's nearly a foot-and-a-half of growth in a period of six years.

Weight

• Obesity and body-image issues may become a problem in middle childhood.

  Feldman reports that children in this age bracket tend to gain about 5 to 7 pounds each year. During this time, body image concerns may emerge. Girls, in particular, begin to worry about whether their weight is normal. Forty percent of girls will start trying to lose weight at ages 9 and 10. In fact, 15 percent of children are considered obese. According to Feldman, the number of obese children has tripled since the 1960s.

Thinking Skills

• Memory improves during middle childhood, making complex learning possible.

  Feldman says that most children start out the middle childhood years thinking in an egocentric manner. Thinking is mostly centered on self. How do I feel? What do I want? As children progress, they become more able to incorporate logic and the perspectives of those around them. Memory also improves greatly during this period, allowing for complex learning.

Self-Esteem

• Children get some of their self-esteem by comparing themselves to others.

  During middle childhood, children begin to form a concept of who they are. Feldman asserts that children will define themselves based on their individual traits. For example, a middle school girl may view herself as friendly, loyal and honest. Children tend to compare themselves to others, and derive self-esteem accordingly. Most children have high self-esteem in middle childhood. Unfortunately, this tends to change during adolescence.

Spiritual Growth

• Parents can help develop the emerging spirituality of their children.

  Middle childhood is also a time of moral development and spiritual growth. Feldman states that children are now beginning to understand the moral principles behind behavior. Moral decisions are no longer based simply on rewards or punishments. An internal code of ethics begins to emerge, based in large part upon parental guidance. According to a 2009 article titled "The Role of Parents in the Spiritual Development of Children" by Leon Blanchette, parents have a unique opportunity to be spiritual mentors to their children. Parents help to develop a worldview in their children (either healthy or unhealthy), which will guide them in moral and spiritual decisions.