Before starting school, your child probably had little interest in stepping on the scale or standing by a tape measure. That changes when kids begin to compare themselves with their school friends. Between the ages of 6 and 11, your child will likely gain an average of six to seven pounds each year, grow a little more than two inches each year, and increase in head size by about one inch. The new inches or pounds may be added in “mini” growth spurts, usually lasting several months and occurring several times a year. Show
The truly noticeable change in your child will probably be associated with the first signs of puberty. For girls, breast development may start as early as 8 years, although 10 is the average. For boys, enlargement of the testicles and thinning and reddening of the scrotum, (the pouch of skin that holds the testicles) marks the beginning of puberty. Male puberty may begin as early as 9, although 11 is the average. During these years, children of the same age are frequently at different points in their growth and sexual development. Cognitive DevelopmentThe first 12 years of life are prime time for learning. Experiences actually change the structure of the brain. During early childhood, the developing brain is busy forming multiple connections between nerve cells. These connections function much like the “wiring” of a computer. Each new experience results in a new connection. By age 3, your child’s brain should have twice as many connections as an adult’s. Connections that are used repeatedly become very strong. Connections that are used infrequently are eliminated. This “use it or lose it” principle is Mother Nature’s way of helping each child adapt to his or her own environment. When connections are eliminated, the ability to perform a particular function is easily lost. For example, in the first months of life, an infant is able to distinguish several hundred spoken sounds, many more than in any single language. As the infant adjusts to his or her native language, the connections for sounds not used in that language are eliminated and the infant can no longer recognize such sounds. School-age children have replaced magical thinking and prelogical thinking with concrete logical thinking. A number of other mental processes are required for success in school. Children need to be able to sequence, or put things in order, and have an understanding of time. School-age children need to be able to pay attention for fairly long periods of time (45 minutes by age 9) and filter out all unimportant distractions. They also need to develop their own tricks for memorizing and recalling information on demand. SleepWith each passing birthday, your child will require a little less sleep. Some kindergarten children need 12 hours of sleep, but most require 10. By age 11, most children can get by with nine hours of sleep. The test is daytime sleepiness. Bedtime routines, such as a bedtime story or reading in bed for a half-hour before “lights out” can help your child relax. Although bedtime can be an ideal time for a heart-to-heart chat, avoid stressful topics to prevent sleep disturbances. SafetySooner or later all parents begin to wonder, “Is it safe to leave my child home alone?” There is no one age when every child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities of staying safe and taking care of oneself. Some children are ready as early as 11, others as late as 15. Use these questions to help think through the various considerations. Begin with the question, “Does my child want to stay home alone?”
In addition to these questions be sure to also consider these questions related to safety:
Emotional maturity is also something that should be considered:
If your child is interested in staying home alone, and if he or she appears to be mature enough, then it is time for a training session or two. Make sure your child can do the following things…
DisciplineIt is important to establish rules for your child for when they are home alone. You can add to the following:
There are a number of other precautions to consider. V-chips that block programs inappropriate for children are available in newer television models. Check your television’s instruction manual. If your television does not have a V-chip, check with your local electronics or appliance store for information about possible installation of this type of device. If you have a computer, you might want to consider blocking access to specific Web sites, such as those that may be too mature for young eyes or chat rooms and bulletin boards where dangerous people may lurk. Check your computer program manual and with your Internet service provider for assistance. Telephones can also be programmed to block calls with specific telephone number prefixes that are associated with inappropriate call-in lines. Check with your telephone service provider for more information about blocking such calls. Be sure your child knows to keep the house key safe and out of sight and when to locate a spare key in an emergency. Top 12 Facts You Should Know about Middle Childhood
How is physical growth different in middle childhood than in early childhood?During middle childhood, physical growth slows down. One result of the slower rate of growth is an improvement in motor skills. Children of this age tend to sharpen their abilities to perform both gross motor skills such as riding a bike and fine motor skills such as cutting their fingernails.
What is the difference between infancy and early childhood and middle childhood?Infancy and Toddlerhood (birth through two years) Early Childhood (3 to 5 years) Middle Childhood (6 to 11 years)
How does the body grow and change during early childhood?Physical Growth and Appearance
During the preschool years, there is a steady increase in children's height, weight, and muscle tone. Compared with toddlers, preschoolers are longer and leaner. Their legs and trunks continue to grow, and their heads are not so large in proportion to their bodies.
What is true about physical growth in middle childhood?On average, the steady growth of middle childhood results in an increase in height of a little over 2 inches a year in both boys and girls. Weight gain averages about 6.5 pounds a year. A number of factors, including how close the child is to puberty, will determine when and how much a child grows.
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