MIDDLE CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

FACT SHEET
(9 YEARS – 11 YEARS)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

During this developmental stage, children begin to lose their baby teeth and gain skills which
can be used for team sports, such as soccer and t-ball (MedlinePlus, 2018).

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

At this stage of development, children continue to further develop their reading skills and are
able to understand and complete several step directions (MedlinePlus, 2018).

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

At this stage logical thinking is limited, general knowledge is accumulating, and they are able
to apply learned concepts to new tasks. (Oregon State University, 2001)

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

During these years children are experiences fears associated with school, such as “poor
academic performance, rejection by classmates, the possibility of personal harm, threats to
parental health, and media events (Berk, 2013). They are also aware of the difference between
feeling an emotion and expressing it (Berk, 2013).

MORAL REASONING/SELF-REGULATION DEVELOPMENT

It is around this developmental stage that children begin to display aggression. Although
children are able to “display a flexible capacity for moral self-regulation,” reactive aggressive
increases (Berk, 2013).

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS

During this stage, children become focused on self-concept, their school environment will
have a large impact on their self-esteem. The type of household they experience will have an
impact on their development, a child that grows up in an Authoritative environment will
experience “upbeat mood, high self-esteem, self-control, academic achievement” and more
(Berk, 2013).

ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT

Children are going through tremendous changes during

this developmental stage, peer pressure becomes a large
cause of stress and emotions. Children that display
increased “aggression, school failure, anxiety, antisocial
behavior, and poor peer relations” could have depression
(Santrock, 2007, pg. 343).

AT HOME

Although parental involvement can be challenging

during this stage of development, there are many important tools that parents can use to aid
in their child’s development. Scholer (2009) explains the importance of monitoring child
behavior in school and at home. A technique can be used for this is to “balance the promotion
of independence with communication of genuine concern about and interest in a child’s
activities” (Scholer, 2009). Being communicative and involved will help a parent be successful.