Late Childhood Development Overview

Late Childhood (Intermediate Schooler)

• Late childhood encompasses ages 9 to 12, sometimes referred to as "preteens".
• Physical changes during this period are often unpredictable and vary among children.

Physical Development

• Intermediate schoolers gain control over their bodies compared to primary schoolers.

• They become more active and able to choose their own hobbies and sports.

• School, friendships and exploring activities are common interests, yet physical growth progresses slowly.

• Early puberty starts with girls about 2 years ahead of boys in physical maturity.

• For girls, budding breasts are often the first sign, with periods starting between ages 8 and 13.

• The brain triggers the release of sex hormones in both boys and girls, leading to changes.

• Girls:

  • Breast development may include small lumps behind the nipple, sometimes painful, but it eventually subsides.
  • One breast might develop slower than the other; this is normal
  • Vulva and vagina grow slightly larger in size
  • Uterus also grows.
  • Armpit and pubic hair growth starts.

• Boys:

  • May have chest swelling which usually subsides within a year or two.
  • Testicle size moderately enlarges
  • Penis and scrotum begin to grow.
  • Semen release can begin; this can happen while sleep or awake
  • Hair grows in the armpits and pubic areas, as well as on the chest, face

Height, Weight, and Muscle Development

• Children generally gain 2.3 to 3.2 kilograms a year largely due to muscle, bone and organ development.
• Height typically increases by 2.5 inches annually, with the potential for growth spurts causing increased appetite.
• Muscles, liver and skeleton grow consistently; while organs like the brain and intestines grow at different rates and mature at different rates.
• Body fat increases to prepare for adolescence, happening earlier and in larger amounts for girls.
• Girls often appear "chubby" while boys tend to develop leaner muscle mass. These body differences become more apparent during adolescence.

Motor Skills

• Children around ages 10 and 11 usually become more coordinated and often get involved with activities like swimming, basketball or running.
• This period leads to an increased sense of enjoyment and accomplishment.
• Boys typically show greater nimbleness in large muscle activities compared to girls.
• Despite being more active, they are not physically mature; active play is preferred over sitting or standing for long periods of time.
• Fine motor skills improve by age 8, contributing to improved handwriting.
• Writing improves with smaller, straighter letters and numbers.
• Children can create crafts and play instruments like the piano or guitar with greater control.
• Girls typically perform better than boys in fine motor tasks.

Cognitive Development

• Concrete operational thinking allows them to organize thoughts effectively, although logical perception and reasoning remains limited to current situations.
• Children can apply learned information to situations they can directly manipulate.
• Schoolwork becomes more complicated with the growth of vocabulary, length of reading materials, and incorporation of problem-solving tasks.
• Understanding logic and reasoning helps them strategize for achieving desired goals .
• Develop interests in potential future careers, hobby collections, and participation in sports and hobbies.
• Comprehension of concepts is usually improved without the need for direct hands-on experiences.

Reading Development

• Previous knowledge and vocabulary directly correlate to comprehension of new reading materials and enable them to understand unknown words by context.
• This approach to reading is often described as reading to learn.
• To encourage reading, consider the child's personal preferences while selecting appropriate reading material.
• Choose information books or novels aligned with a specific interest.
• Select materials suitable for discussions and in-depth insight.

Attention

• Older children typically have longer and more adaptable attention spans compared to younger children.
• Attention span often depends on the intricacy of the task.
• Older children are better at concentrating and focusing on tasks for longer durations.

Creativity

• Children are generally inquisitive and open to exploring new ideas naturally.
• Creativity is innate; however, encouragement, guidance and support from parents, teachers and peers are needed.
• Creative work can be enhanced by breaking complex tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
• Foster creativity by encouraging alternative responses from each child, and celebrating uniqueness and differences
• Encourage sharing of creative ideas among all students for reducing stress and anxiety.

Media Impact

• Media like television and computers have increasing relevance to children.
• Increased media exposure provides varied avenues to communicate effectively through speech and writing.
• Exposure facilitates collaborative work practices.
• Students can use technology in effective problem solving, goal setting and creation of strategies.
• Seek information and improve skills to meet their own personal goals.

Implications for Child Care, Education, and Parenting

• Provide varied opportunities for physical activities at home and at school.
• Encourage participation in meaningful activities until children find their interests.
• Develop stronger emotional ties with children to address insecurities and social concerns.
• Offer nutritious food choices and support healthy eating habits.
• Empower caretakers to recognize developmental stages to engage with children through participation, by understanding their innate curiosity and using it to achieve skill mastery appropriately.
• Create an environment where risks can be taken and discoveries made safely.

Self Concept

• A key characteristic of this stage is the acquisition of the feeling of self-competence with an increasing awareness and understanding of self.
• The child's self-concept and accomplishments are greatly influenced by external factors and unique individual experiences.