Middle Childhood
Realms of Cognition
Brain and Behavior
- Brains develop by genetics and environmental input
- White matter increases which reflects better communication between nuerons
- Body becomes more coordinated
- Progress in gross motor (bike riding, sports) and fine motor (cutting, drawing)
Cognitive Development
- Children acting more like adults
- Can be given fairly complex responsibilities
- participate in discussions of local or world events
- Understands humor of adults
Concrete Operational Stage
- 6-12 year olds can now think about more than one aspect at one time
- understands reversible relationships when one change reverses the affect of another
Concrete Operational Stage (Continued)
- Children's thinking is most logical when they are solving problems that relate to real events
- Find it difficult to think logically about abstract contents
- Difficulty distinguishing between their own theories or assumptions and fact
Information Processing Theory
- Cognition is compared to a computer functioning
- Organization and cognition stays the same
- Changes in the amount and efficiency of information flow
- Control of emotions, attention, and problem solving increases
Cognitive Improvements in Middle Childhood
- Memory
- Sensory Memory refers to a brief retention of sensory experience
- Rehearsal: Working on keeping memories, repeating it to ourselves
- Storage and Retrieval of Information
- Script is a representation of a frequently experienced event
- Working memory increases through age
COGNITIVE CHANGES
- Processing Speed: children respond to stimulus quicker
- Breadth and Depth of Knowledge: As children get older their knowledge base increases. They remember more accurately because they can infer what must have happened. Helps children learn new information more easily
- Logical Thinking Skills: Children begin to understand their own experiences. The better the child understands their experiences, the more likely they are to reconstruct it
- Language: Narrative skills improve. Children can tell a coherent story. Children's vocabulary grows and their skill describing events improves. Describing experiences in their own words helps children retain memories.
- Memory Strategies: Children use rehearsal, repeating things over and over, to remember concepts (such as state capitals). Organization Strategy is sorting items up to facilitate memorization. Elaboration Strategy is finding a common link between items.
Children gradually improve their understanding of their own cognitive processes as they approach the end of middle childhood. Memory is influenced by motivation to learn and the amount of descriptions offered by adults.
Cognitive Development and Formal Schooling
Quantity and Quality of formal education impacts children's cognitive abilities. Teachers' interactions with students are highly influential on students. Other characteristics help to predict cognitive competence and academic achievement across the world.
Country and Cultural Factors
- education level of adults
- access to preschool
- kindergarten attendance
- training of self regulation
- Quantity of instruction per year
- Achievement tests and "exit exams"
- Low Grade retention
School Factors
- Strong Leadership by Administration
- Clear mission and vision shared by educators
- Small Class sizes
- Communication with parents
- Multiculturalism support
- Consistent behavior expectations
- Adequate teaching materials
- Support for teachers' training
Teacher Factors
- Warmth, Positive Attitudes
- Good behavioral management skills
- High academic expectations of each child
- Tailoring feedback and input to children's needs
- Respect and valuing of children's ethnic differences
Social Cognition
Social Relationships
- Satisfactory social relationships are important to adjustment
- Helps children learn about other people's points of view
- Contributes to child's sense of security and connectedness
Development of Friendships
Sullivan's Theory
- Children need friendship in order to reduce egocentrism and promote altruism
- Children's dependence on playmates becomes more important as they grow
- Friendships validate a person's thoughts, feelings, and beliefs