MIDDLE CHILDHOOD

Physical Milestone 1. Children in this age range can ride a bicycle with training wheels, can skip, jump, hop and walk sideways.
2. A childs speed is increased by 18 feet per second, better control of hands and feet.

Language Milestone 1. Children in this age range can understand the meaning of at least 10,000 words. 2. They use advanced conversational strategies, such as shading. 3. Children can communicate clearly in demanding situations, such as on the telephone. Cognitive Milestone 1. These children display effective spatial reasoning, as indicated by ability to construct well-organized cognitive maps and give clear directions. 2. They have the ability to pass conservation tasks and provide clear evidence of operations mental actions that obey logical rules. 3. They have the ability to pass class inclusion tests that promote knowledge of hierarchy. 4. Children at these ages are more organized and logical thinking. Atypical Milestone 1. Children who cannot speak in complete sentences may be experiencing atypical development. 2. Children who cannot perform basic motor skills such as holding or writing with a pencil may be experiencing atypical development. Social/Cultural Influences 1. Children who attend poor performing schools are likely to have limited opportunities for successful lives. 2. African and Mexican American students are less likely to visit places in the community that can help them relate to information being taught in the classroom, such as historical sites and landmarks. Influential Strategies 1. Parents and teachers should encourage drawing, mapping, pretend play, classification and categorization of objects. 2. Parents and teachers should promote logical thinking by asking questions and promote learning by motivating children to attend school and complete assignments.
References Berk, L. E. (2013). Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.