School-age children development
Key points
- This article describes the normal physical, emotional, and mental abilities of children ages 6 to 12 years old.
- School-age children typically exhibit fairly smooth and strong motor skills.
- Early school-age children should be able to consistently use simple, but structurally complete, sentences that average 5 to 7 words.
- Frequent physical complaints (such as sore throats, tummy aches, arm/leg pain) may simply be due to a child's enhanced body awareness.
Definition
This article describes the normal physical, emotional, and mental abilities of children ages 6 to 12 years old.
Information
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
School-age children typically exhibit fairly smooth and strong motor skills. However, they vary widely in coordination (especially eye-hand), endurance, balance, and physical tolerance.
Fine motor skills may also vary widely and influence a child's ability to write neatly, dress appropriately, and perform certain chores, such as making beds or doing dishes.
There will be significant differences in height, weight, and build among children of this age range. It is important to remember that genetic background, as well as nutrition and exercise, may influence growth.
A great deal of variance also occurs with the age at which children begin to develop secondary sexual characteristics (girls - breast development, underarm and pubic hair growth; boys - growth of underarm, chest, and pubic hair; and growth of testicles and penis).
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Early school-age children should be able to consistently use simple, but structurally complete, sentences that average 5 to 7 words. As the child progresses through the elementary years, syntax and pronunciation becomes normal. Children use more complex sentences as they grow.
Language delays may be due to hearing problems or intelligence deficits. In addition, children who are unable to express themselves adequately may be more prone to exhibiting aggressive behavior or temper tantrums.
A 6-year-old normally can follow a series of 3 commands in a row.
By about 10 years old, most children can follow 5 commands in a row. Children with a deficit in this area may try to cover it up with backtalk or clowning around and will rarely expose themselves to potential ridicule by asking for clarification.
BEHAVIOR
Frequent physical complaints (such as sore throats, tummy aches, arm/leg pain) may simply be due to a child's enhanced body awareness. Although frequently no physical evidence for such complaints can be found, the complaints need to be investigated, both to rule out substantial conditions and to assure the child that the parent is concerned about his or her well-being (maintaining trust).
Peer acceptance becomes increasingly important during the school-age years. Behaviors that are important to be part of the group need to be negotiated with parents to allow the child to have some conformity and group standing without crossing beyond the boundaries of acceptable behavior within the family's standards.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
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