School-Age Child Skills and Development PDF

In this material, we will be discussing the skills, changes, safety issues, hospitalization, and more. Therefore, to help us remember all those important concepts, let’s remember the word: SCHOOL Skills: The school-age child has learned many things up to this point and it all started when they we...

In this material, we will be discussing the skills, changes, safety issues, hospitalization, and more. Therefore, to help us remember all those important concepts, let’s remember the word: SCHOOL Skills: The school-age child has learned many things up to this point and it all started when they were an infant. So, now the child is building upon those skills and mastering them with independence. This helps them discover their role within the family and among friends. As the child advances from 6 to 12, parent to child, and child to peer interaction along with schooling will be the main drivers for learning and growth (why called it’s called the school-age child). The school setting varies and can be via a public, private, online, or home setting. Fine motor skills: these are skills that use small muscles: Writing (not only writes their name with ease but will advance with writing sentences and complex stories), drawing with details (no longer just stick people), typing, helping with advanced cooking and cleaning tasks Gross motor skills: these are skills that use large muscles: ride bike without training wheels, swim, use scooters or skates, compete in sports etc. Cognitive skills: (the child now has an increased ability to focus and pay attention) : reading, writing stories, solving math problems (concrete operations), developing hobbies (classifies objects), understands conservation, increased ability with memorizing and learning complex material as they progress through school grades Language Skills: Advancing and fine tuning, understandable and adult like in many ways, any language problems should be consulted with a speech pathologists, turning spoken words into written words, starts creative writing, learning grammar rules and can follow them, definitions and spelling words Social skills: less egocentric and more concerned about others and their perspective (cares about what others think and how they can help out), loves peer activities and forms special friendships with the same gender (changes when they become teens), parents influence still a big part but they start to question it toward the end of this stage, competitive play (teams) and joining clubs where rules are important to follow Play style with others includes cooperative, competitive, physical, constructive play with challenges. Also, like doing things by self like reading, video games, collecting items, and board games. Games you may see a school-age child playing: Simon Says, Charades, Hide and Seek, Tag, Basketball, board games, Hopscotch, jump rope, kick the can etc. Changes (body): Height: Grows about 2.5 inches per year (major growth spurts will happen in teen years when puberty starts) average height is 45 inches for a 6-year-old and 59 inches for a 12-year-old Weight: Gain about 4 ½ to 7 lbs. a year (average: 45 lbs. at 6 years to 90 lbs. by 12 years…depends on the child’s genetics and other factors could be more or less) Teeth: started losing baby teeth usually around 5 to 6 year (central incisors) and now permanent teeth start coming in (usually the central incisors). Teething technically doesn’t end until adulthood with wisdom teeth coming in around age 21 (makes for 32 permanent teeth), but most of the 28 permanent teeth are done erupting by 12 to 13 years (therefore, at the end of this stage to beginning of the next). Educate: Dental care VERY important to prevent cavities, learning to develop habits of good oral hygiene (brush twice a day and floss daily), visiting dentist every 6 months (twice a year), orthodontics if needed Onset of puberty varies…girls tend to enter puberty earlier than boys. The onset of puberty for girls is between the ages of 8-13 years, while boys enter puberty around 9-14 years. Therefore, the child should be educated about puberty and body changes that will occur. Harmful Risks: The school-age child is very active with other peers (some school-age children may want to show off or compete). Therefore, they need education about taking steps to stay safe during play. Educational topics include: Safe usage of bikes/scooters/skates (helmets and other protective gear)  Swimming safety: avoid diving or deep water dangers like undercurrents…always wearing a life jacket (consider swimming lessons) Strangers: kidnapping tactics, not trusting a stranger, inappropriate touch (teach child what is okay vs. what is not) Avoid dangerous objects: fire and guns (keep out of reach and locked up) Car and Traffic safety: wear seat belt while riding in a vehicle Most school-age children will be riding in a booster seat (state laws vary) Example: some states say if the child is older than 8 years and at least 4’9 they no longer need a booster seat Obstacles at this Age: The school-age child is forming self-concept during this time. They are asking themselves, “Who am I?” and “How do I fit in?” The parents play a role with this developing as well as the school setting, which is majorly influenced with peer approval (accepted by others) and teachers (grades and feedback they get….smart enough etc.). A poor self-concept leads to self-doubt, depression, and low self-worth. Tips for helping a child develop a good self-concept: be positive and highlight child’s strengths, guide with setting obtainable goals (and praise when completed), care about their interests and help them grow in them, let them grow and when they mess up help them reflect back on what happened and how to improve next time Bullying: harming or intimidating a person Most common setting in at school but can be outside of school or via social media “cyberbullying”. Boys tend to be more physical while girls will tease, mock, or spread rumors. Signs child is bullied: see physical injuries that child can’t explain very well, school items are missing, doesn’t want to go to school (fakes sickness), grades are poor, behavior changes (withdrawing, agitated, depressed), suicidal behavior Get your child to open up about it (takes time), report it, don’t ignore it, but take an active part as a parent in getting it stopped (contact school, report to authorities etc.) and let your child know you care Weight: nutrition and exercise are very important in helping prevent childhood obesity… obesity leads to health problems like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, joint pain and much more. Remember the risk factors for obesity: HEAVY High caloric diet (limit junk food, fast food, sugary drinks) Exercise lacking (limit electronic activities and encourage to get outside and exercise) “US Department of Health and Human Services, recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily”(“Physical Activity Guidelines for School-Aged Children and Adolescents”, 2019). Accessibility limited to healthy foods View food as a way to deal with stress Your genetics and family dynamics (how family members eat, what’s prepared, exercise habits, and genetics affect how a person puts on weight) Education on Managing or Preventing Obesity in a School-age Child: Make it a family effort (set obtainable goals and start slow) Replace junk food that child likes with creative healthy foods Example: instead of candy serve vibrant tangy fruits, or baked sweet potatoes fries instead of French fries, pizza with low fat or plant based cheese, turkey pepperoni, avoid sugary drinks (set limit), avoid rewarding with food, make exercise fun (bike trails, team sports) Exposure to drugs, violence, and sexual content through media and school: listen to your child and pay attention to what they are exposed to (via online, from friends etc.), have an honest open line of communication with the child and talk about these issues when they come up and how to deal with them. Will test the limits by telling lies, stealing, cheating Outcome of Hospitalizations (Nurse’s Role) Hospitalized school-age child can experience the following FEARS: Fear of pain, injury (losing a body part or becoming deformed), death, losing independence/control (interruption to school routine, separation from family and friends), modesty: doesn’t like showing private parts Nurse’s Role with the Hospitalized School-age Child: 7 T’s Take time to let them to express fears Talk about those fears and coping techniques to help maintain control Truthful about procedures and tests Teach with pictures, outlines, age appropriate videos, equipment and lay how it will happen Tactful with privacy (especially during procedures that expose privates) (modesty) Time given for activities that helps keep them distracted from sickness or upcoming procedures Their friends…keeping in communication with school friends is important