Child Development and Socioeconomic Factors

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Questions and Answers

How does socioeconomic status influence a child's educational achievement?

Socioeconomic status can affect family atmosphere, parenting practices, and parental expectations, which in turn impact a child's educational achievement.

What is the potential impact of peer acceptance on children's academic performance?

Children who are disliked by their peers often perform poorly in school, and this pattern can also affect their social acceptance.

What are the advantages of smaller class sizes according to educators?

Many educators argue that smaller class sizes benefit students by allowing for more personalized attention and improved learning environments.

What alternative education models do some parents choose for their children?

Some parents opt for charter schools or home schooling as alternative education models. Signup and view all the answers

What criteria are typically used for admissions to programs for gifted children?

Admissions to gifted programs usually involve multiple criteria, which may include assessment tests, teacher recommendations, and academic performance. Signup and view all the answers

What are two examples of internalizing behaviors in children exposed to high family conflict?

Anxiety and depression. Signup and view all the answers

How can constructive family conflict be beneficial for children?

It helps children understand the need for rules and effective issue management. Signup and view all the answers

In what family structure do children tend to do better according to the content?

In families with two continuously married parents. Signup and view all the answers

What is co-parenting, and how is it related to child outcomes?

Co-parenting involves shared responsibility between parents and is linked to positive child outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What skills do peer groups help children develop?

Adjusting their needs and desires to those of others. Signup and view all the answers

What is prejudice and how does it potentially affect children?

Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude towards outsiders, negatively impacting children's emotional well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What does sociometric popularity measure in a child's social dynamics?

It measures a child's social standing based on positive and negative nominations. Signup and view all the answers

What types of behaviors are categorized as externalizing behaviors in children?

Aggression and fighting. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor in developing a sense of industry according to the content?

Learning how to work hard to achieve goals. Signup and view all the answers

How can a lack of praise affect a child's self-perception?

It may lead to feelings of low self-worth and a sense of inferiority. Signup and view all the answers

What do representational systems in children help to form?

Broad, inclusive self-concepts that integrate various aspects of the self. Signup and view all the answers

Define coregulation in the context of family dynamics.

Coregulation refers to a collaborative approach where children and parents share power and responsibilities. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'narrow virtuosity' and how does it affect children?

It's when children specialize in a narrow area, limiting their overall development. Signup and view all the answers

How do parenting techniques change as children grow?

Parents tend to use inductive techniques that explain the consequences of behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is inertia in psychological terms?

It's a state of stagnation and resistance to change often due to an inferiority complex. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does parental autonomy have on children's behavior?

It influences how children feel about their parents and whether they follow their wishes. Signup and view all the answers

How does the physical activity of children in developing countries differ from those in more affluent countries?

Children in developing countries often work and have limited time for play, while those in wealthier countries spend more time on media and schooling than outdoor activities. Signup and view all the answers

What are the typical play activities for boys and girls during recess?

Boys tend to engage in more physically active games like rough-and-tumble play, while girls often play games that involve verbal expression or counting, such as Chinese garter and jumping rope. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics are essential for organized sports involving younger children?

Younger children need more flexible rules, shorter instruction times, and greater free time for practice in organized sports. Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to childhood obesity according to the content?

Contributors to childhood obesity include genetics, poor nutrition, consumption of fast food, and a sedentary lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

At what stage does concern for body image typically begin to emerge in children, and which gender is slightly more affected?

Concern for body image usually emerges early in middle childhood, with boys being slightly more likely to be overweight than girls. Signup and view all the answers

What types of medical conditions are classified as acute, and how do they differ from chronic conditions?

Acute medical conditions include short-term issues like infections and flu, while chronic conditions are persistent and last for three months or longer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the low death rate during early childhood?

The low death rate in early childhood is significant as it represents the effectiveness of vaccinations during this period. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to have shorter instruction times in organized sports for younger children?

Shorter instruction times are important because younger children may struggle with processing lengthy instructions and benefit from more active participation. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive nomination in a social group context?

Positive nomination refers to asking children whom they like to play with or think other kids like the most. Signup and view all the answers

How does negative nomination differ from positive nomination?

Negative nomination involves asking children who they prefer not to play with or believe is disliked by others. Signup and view all the answers

What social statuses are outlined within the peer group dynamics?

The social statuses include popular, average, neglected, rejected, controversial, and unpopular children. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of neglected children in a social context?

Neglected children are infrequently nominated as best friends and may have fewer social connections. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the nature of bullying as defined in the content.

Bullying is a repeated, intentional, and aggressive behavior perpetrated by individuals or groups with greater power targeting the vulnerable. Signup and view all the answers

How do controversial children differ from rejected ones in peer nominations?

Controversial children are frequently nominated as both best friends and disliked, while rejected children tend to be consistently viewed negatively. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does positive nomination have on children's social connections?

Positive nomination identifies those who can foster friendships and social bonds, reinforcing their popularity. Signup and view all the answers

Why is understanding social nomination important for researchers and educators?

Understanding social nomination helps identify children's social dynamics, potential conflicts, and promotes healthy peer relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two most important protective factors against mental health issues in children?

Good family relationships and cognitive functioning. Signup and view all the answers

In Kohlberg's moral development theory, what is a key characteristic of pre-conventional reasoning?

Children interpret good and bad based on rewards and punishments. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates post-conventional reasoning from conventional reasoning in moral development?

Post-conventional reasoning involves internal moral standards, while conventional reasoning aligns with societal or parental standards. Signup and view all the answers

Define moral identity as described in the context provided.

Moral identity occurs when moral notions and commitments are central to an individual's life. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of individuals in the moral exemplars category?

Moral exemplars are individuals who have lived exemplary moral lives. Signup and view all the answers

What does childhood depression signify in the context of mental health during middle childhood?

Childhood depression indicates a significant concern for a child's emotional well-being. Signup and view all the answers

List one mental health disorder related to anxiety that can occur in middle childhood.

Separation Anxiety Disorder. Signup and view all the answers

What role does moral character play in a person's moral development?

Moral character involves willpower, desire, and integrity to behave morally despite pressures. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Module 3: Middle and Late Childhood

Developmental psychology module focusing on middle and late childhood
Prepared by Camille Faye Elcano-de la Paz, RPM, MA (Cand.)
Designed to build a foundation for Dasmariñas students

Topics

Chapter 10: Physical Development in Middle and Late Childhood
Chapter 11: Cognitive Development in Middle and Late Childhood
Chapter 12: Psychosocial Development in Middle and Late Childhood
Quiz with 15 items

Physical Development

Growth during middle childhood slows considerably
Height: Children grow approximately 2-3 inches per year
Weight: Weight approximately doubles per year
Girls retain somewhat more fatty tissues than boys (this persists through adulthood)

Tooth Development and Dental Care

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic, untreated conditions in childhood

Nutrition

Recommended calories per day for 9-13-year-olds range from 1,400 to 2,600, depending on gender and activity level
Media strongly influences children's food choices, not always for the better

Sleep

Sleep needs for ages 6-13 are 10 hours per day
Possible factors contributing to sleeping problems: exposure to media screens, physical inactivity, secondhand smoke, TV in the bedroom, poor housing, and lack of parks
Persistent snoring (at least three times a week) may indicate Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB), linked to behavioral and learning difficulties

Brain Development

Brain changes result in faster, more efficient information processing and the ability to ignore distractions

Motor Development and Physical Activity

In developing countries, children often work and have limited freedom and time for physical play
In other countries, children spend less time on sports and outdoor activities, and more time on schooling, homework, and media activities
Children participate in organized sports
Recess activities primarily involve socializing with peers
Boys engage in more physically active games, such as rough-and-tumble play
Girls often participate in games that involve verbal expression or counting aloud, such as Chinese Garter and jumping rope
Organized sports require flexible rules, shorter instruction time, and more free time for practice than older children

Health, Fitness, and Safety

The death rate during these years is the lowest in a lifespan due to vaccines

Obesity and Body Image

Boys are slightly more likely to be overweight than girls
Body image concern becomes important in middle childhood, especially for girls, and may develop into an eating disorder in adolescence
Causes of obesity include genetics, poor nutrition (eating fast food), and sedentary lifestyles

Other Medical Conditions

Acute Medical Conditions: Occasional, short-term conditions like infections, colds, flu, and fevers.
Chronic Medical Conditions: Physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions lasting 3 months or longer.
Diabetes: Type 1 (inherited, often under 10 years old, insulin deficiency) and Type 2 (acquired, often in overweight or older adults, insulin resistance)

Cognitive Development

Piagetian Approach: At about age 7, children enter the concrete operational stage and can use mental operations. They can reason and solve concrete problems, considering multiple aspects of a situation while thinking is still limited to real-world scenarios.
Spatial Thinking: School-age children are better able to understand spatial relationships, allowing them to interpret maps, estimate travel times, and remember routes.
Causality: Children's ability to judge cause-and-effect improves as their knowledge of the world develops. Reasoning quality is better when they use their understanding of the world.
Categorization: Children can sort objects and understand hierarchies. Seriation involves arranging objects in a series according to dimensions like color or height. Difficulties with seriation can predict later learning difficulties in math.
Transitive inferences: Understanding relationships between objects based on known relationships to another.
Inductive and deductive reasoning: Inductive reasoning involves making general conclusions from specific observations, while deductive reasoning uses general premises to reach a specific conclusion.
Conservation: Understanding that certain properties remain constant despite changes in appearance.
Numbers and mathematics: Children's ability to estimate and perform mental math improves with age. They also improve in number line estimation, computational estimation, and measurement estimation.

Information-Processing Approach

Executive Function: Conscious control of thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve goals or solve problems.
Development of Executive Functioning: Prefrontal cortex development during this period leads to faster, more efficient information processing, increased working memory capacity, and improved self-regulation (including attention, inhibiting responses, and monitoring errors).
Language development and executive function: Robust language skills are associated with better executive functioning; delays in language development can make it difficult.

Selective Attention

School-age children are better at concentrating and focusing on necessary information compared to younger children. Focused attention is linked to executive function.

Working Memory

Working memory involves short-term storage and processing of information like a mental workspace
Working memory capacity directly affects academic success

Development of Memory Strategies

Mnemonic Device: Strategies to avoid memory problems.
External Memory Aids: Using tools outside the memory system to help with remembering, such as writing down or making lists.
Rehearsal: Repeating information to keep it in working memory.
Organization: Categorizing information.
Elaboration: Connecting new information with existing knowledge.
Metamemory: Knowledge about memory processes.

Psychometric Approach

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC): A widely used individual intelligence test for children, assessing verbal and performance abilities. Identifies strengths and weaknesses.
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT): A popular group test assessing verbal, numerical concepts, general knowledge, and following directions. Can identify student strengths and weaknesses

Influences on Intelligence

Brain imaging research indicates a moderate correlation between brain size, gray matter, and general intelligence.
The amount of gray matter in the frontal cortex is genetically influenced and linked to IQ.
Connectivity between the frontal and parietal regions (especially in girls) is associated with non-verbal intelligence.

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Developed by Howard Gardner, it suggests that intelligence comprises distinct forms of intelligence, indicating that high intelligence in one area does not automatically mean high intelligence in other areas.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Developed by Robert Sternberg, this theory posits three aspects of intelligence:
- Componential element: Analytical aspect (processing information efficiently, solving problems, evaluating results)
- Experiential element: Insightful or creative aspect (approaching familiar and unfamiliar tasks, comparing new information)
- Contextual element: Practical aspect (dealing with the environment, sizing up situations, knowing appropriate actions)

Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test (STAT)

Measures intelligence by using multiple-choice and essay questions across domains such as verbal, quantitative, and figural abilities.

Language and Literacy

Children progressively use more precise verbs.
They understand how words can have multiple meanings in context.
Similes and metaphors become more common.
Sentence structure becomes more complex, including more subordinate clauses.

The Child in School: Influences on School Achievement

Self-Efficacy Beliefs: Students' beliefs in their ability to master schoolwork and regulate learning significantly affect their motivation and success.
Gender: Research on gender differences and school achievement is inconsistent. Sometimes, girls tend to have better school performance than boys.
Parenting Practices: Parental involvement, expectations, and beliefs about children can impact children's academic achievement.
Socioeconomic Status: Socioeconomic status can strongly influence educational achievements.
Peer Acceptance: Rejection from peers relates to poorer school performance.
Class Size: Smaller class sizes are often associated with improved student outcomes.
Alternative Education Models: Some families prioritize alternative education models such as charter schools or homeschooling.
Media Use: Proper media consumption can be helpful, while improper use may be harmful.

Educating Children with Special Needs

Intellectual Disability: Conditions impacting intellectual functioning.
Learning Disabilities: Include conditions like dyslexia and dyscalculia affecting specific learning and academic abilities.
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gifted Children

Multiple criteria, including achievement test scores, grades, classroom performance, creative output, and teacher/parental nominations, are used to identify gifted children.

Chapter 12: Psychosocial Development

Representational Systems: The self-judgment becomes more conscious, realistic, and comprehensive with broader and inclusive self-concepts that incorporate social and self-concepts.

Erikson's Theory

Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age 5-13yrs): Children develop a sense of industry (competency) when they are able to obtain the praise of adults or peers. They develop inferiorities when they can't obtain this praise.

Maladaptive Trends (in Children)

Narrow Virtuosity: Children are pushed into narrow specializations, limiting their overall development.
Inertia: A state of stagnation where individuals may be resistant to change or growth, often due to an inferiority complex.

Child in the Family

Coregulation: A collaborative approach to regulation and control between children and parents, sharing responsibility and power. The amount of autonomy parents provide impacts children's perceptions.
Inductive discipline: Engaging strategies in disciplinary intervention which involves consequences, empathy, and teaching children the impact their actions have on others.
Family Conflict: High family conflict may lead to various responses in children, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
Constructive family conflict: Can help children understand the need for rules and standards.

Poverty, Child Development, & Family Structures

Although poverty can negatively impact children's development, high-quality parenting can support children.
Children often do better in two-parent families.

Joint Custody and Co-Parenting

Joint custody/co-parenting is often linked to positive child outcomes

Child in the Peer Group

Peer groups enable children to adjust their needs and desires to others.
Prejudice: Unfavorable attitudes toward outsiders, frequently based on pre-conceived notions.
Discrimination: Treating people unfairly based on characteristics like race or ethnicity can significantly impact children's mental and emotional well-being.
Sociometric Popularity: Measure of children's social standings within peer groups, using positive and negative nominations.

Aggression

Proactive Aggression: Instrumental aggression to achieve desired goals.
Reactive Aggression: Hostile aggression in response to provocations or blocked goals.
Hostile Attribution Bias: Tendency to perceive others as hostile or intent on harming.
Bullying: Repeated, intentional, aggressive behaviors by individuals with more power to harm or distress others who are vulnerable.
Types of aggression: Physical, verbal, and relational.

Mental Health

Potential mental health disorders in middle childhood such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, school phobia, anxiety disorders (separation anxiety, social, generalized), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and childhood depression.

Protective Factors

Good family relationships: A crucial protective factor for children's well-being.
Good cognitive functioning: Also a significant protective factor.

Kohlberg's Moral Development

Pre-conventional reasoning: children judge morality based on rewards and punishments.
Conventional reasoning: individuals base morality on societal and parental standards.
Post-conventional reasoning: Morality is more internalised and based on high ethical standards.

Moral Personality

Moral identity: when moral notions and moral commitments are central in a person's life
Moral character: includes willpower, desire, and integrity to stand up to pressure and disappointments.
Moral exemplars: those who live exemplary moral lives.

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Description

Explore how various factors such as socioeconomic status, peer acceptance, and family dynamics influence children's educational achievements and development. Delve into the impact of class sizes, family conflict, and co-parenting on children's academic performance and social skills.