Considerations for Child Development - Middle Childhood

Physical development is concerned with the biological changes of the body and the brain. It includes genetics, a foetus’s growth in the mother’s womb, the birth process, brain development and the acquisition of fine motor skills; it also encompasses behaviours that promote and impede health and environmental factors that influence physical growth. (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010, p. 5). I have chosen to evaluate the physical developmental stage of middle childhood, children the ages of six to ten years of age. This essay discusses the considerations for physical development and how it can be supported in the learning environment. It will look at motor development and its influences, the benefits of physical activity, and the consequences of inactivity. How a student’s physical development can facilitate or restrict development in other areas, and how we can support the physical needs and development of students.
Generally, children will develop their motor skills at them same time in life, however there are other factors that influence this development e.g. a child’s environmental influences, (nurture) and also inherited characteristics and tendencies (nature). There are many things a teacher can do to facilitate a student’s basic cognitive process, they can help children pay attention to things that are important for them to remember; e.g. completing homework tasks, throwing litter in the bin, raising their hand and waiting before they speak in class. Introducing new information to the students existing knowledge will help them to continue to improve and learn. In middle childhood, children start to improve further on their fine motor skills, their handwriting becomes smaller, smoother and more consistent, and they will also start to participate in such fine motor activities as sewing, model building and arts and crafts projects. They will also intensify their speed, and coordination in running kicking, catching and dribbling. (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010, p. 161)

References: McDevitt, Teresa M., & Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis, (2010). Child Development and Education. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, Fourth Edition Parenting and Child Health, (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2012, from Women’s and Children’s Health Network Website, http:/www.cyh.com/HealthTopics Chu, 2000; Dohnt & Tiggermann, 2006b; Harter, 1999 (Logan, Alberto, Kana & Waylor-Bowen, 1994; Sailsbury, Evans, & Palombaro, 1997).