Cognition in Middle Childhood
Your child's functioning (highly questionable) brain
How is your child's brain changing?
-white matter increases and allows for more communication between neurons, which are the building blocks of the brain. This increase in different areas of the brain help develop coordination and motor skills.
Your child's brain has grown in size and that is expected, and this growth aids in the development of skills previously presented at a lower level.
Cognitive Development
-do complex tasks
-discuss events going on around them and around the world
-get humor that previously wasn't acknowledged
Thanks to several researchers and theorists we understand these cognitive changes that children go through as they develop. One such theorist, Jean Piaget suggests that these changes are not just taught or experienced but constructed.
Cognitive development in middle children include the improvement of processing speed, breadth and depth of knowledge, logical thinking skills, language skills, memory strategies, and metacognitive skills.
School Helps Your Child Grow!
Students can learn more than A, B, C, and 1 +1
Developing a strong mind is an essential goal of school.
Students come to school to learn and grow.
How is school affecting your child's growth?
- Strong leadership from the principal
-Clear mission shared by teachers and staff
-Small class sizes
-Communication between parents and teachers
-Support and respect for cultural diversity
These are just a few. School functions as way for students to grow academically and cognitively.
Middle Child Relationships
*Activity*
Friendships are important for development and growth
The bad experiences your children have with friends throughout their development will add to their development and help them process the complex structure of friendships. As you reflected on your own experiences, it is clear that we've all probably learned a lesson or two from failed friendships that helped us along the way, even into adulthood.