1. Physical Development in Middle and Late Childhood
Children 11
Physical Development in Middle and Late Childhood

2. Skeletal and Muscular Systems
During the elementary school years, children
Grow 2 to 3 inches a year until age 11
Gain about 5 to 7 pounds a year
Double strength capabilities
Proportional changes

3. The Brain Increased myelination Middle/late childhood
What Changes Take Place in Body Growth, Brain, and Motor Development?
The Brain
Increased myelination
Faster, effective processing of information
Middle/late childhood
Brain volume stabilization
Prefrontal circuitry and pathways increase
Significant changes in structures and regions
Attention, reasoning, cognitive control
Increased cortical thickness
Synaptic pruning occurs

4. Overweight Children Overweight Increasing health problem in the U.S.
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Overweight Children
Overweight
Increasing health problem in the U.S.
BMI used to measure children
Worldwide: more children overweight
Recently in U.S.: obesity leveling off
Risk factor; the earlier the child is overweight, the more risk of obesity in adolescence

5. Overweight Children Factors linked to overweight childhood
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Overweight Children
Factors linked to overweight childhood
Genetics, heredity
Environmental factors
Availability of food and types
Eating patterns and habits
Cultural influences
Parental supervision, attitudes
Television watching, low activity behaviors

6. Overweight Children Consequences of overweight childhood
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Overweight Children
Consequences of overweight childhood
Risk of medical problems
Pulmonary/airway obstruction, sleep apnea
Bone, hip problems
Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol
Cardiovascular risk higher in low SES
Risk of psychological problems
Lower self-esteem, tired, less attractive
Peer relations; rejection and withdrawal

7. Overweight Children Treatment: Activity levels are not hereditary
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Overweight Children
Treatment:
Combination of
Diet, weight loss programs
Exercise, calorie-burning activities
Behavior modification, lifestyle changes
Daily diary provides feedback, reinforcement
Intervention programs vary
Schools, parents are very important for change
Activity levels are not hereditary

8. Diseases Four childhood diseases most harmful Cancer: Diabetes:
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Diseases
Four childhood diseases most harmful
Cancer:
Child cancers attack all areas of body
By age 19: 1 in 330 children in U.S. get cancer
Little known about causes, possible genetics
Diabetes:
Type I and Type II
Highest risk: obesity and Type II
Ethnic groups at higher risk of diabetes

9. Diseases Asthma: Incidence has steadily increased over years
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Diseases
Asthma:
Incidence has steadily increased over years
Affected by increased air pollution
Most common childhood chronic disease
Primary reason for missing school, ER visits
Exact causes unknown; blames allergic reactions to environmental substances
Treated with inhalers, medications
Child may outgrow by late adolescence

10. Accidents and Injuries
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Accidents and Injuries
Injuries:
Middle/late childhood: leading cause of death
Most common: motor vehicle accidents
Serious injuries caused by sports equipment
Most accidents occur near home or school
Prevention strategies best
Safety equipment, minimize risky behaviors, proper adult supervision

11. Exercise and Sports Sports:
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Exercise and Sports
Sports:
Involvement of children increasing every year
Positive consequences
Healthy exercise, opportunities to learn, raises self-esteem, good peer relationships
Negative consequences
Pressure to win/achieve, physical injuries, academic work falters, too competitive, unrealistic expectations for athletic success

12. Exercise and Sports Exercise Children not exercising enough
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Exercise and Sports
Exercise
Children not exercising enough
Less P.E. programs/involvement in school
TV watching promotes sedentary lifestyles
High-intensity resistance exercise
Decreases body fat, lessens overweight risks
Increases muscle strength
Linked to important cognitive activity
Opportunities, parental encouragement a must

13. Parents’ Guide for Children
Pros
Exercise
Opportunities to learn how to compete
Self-esteem
Setting for developing peer relations and friendships
Cons
Pressure to achieve, high stress created
Physical injuries
Distraction from academic work
Exploitation
Wrong values taught; win-at-all-costs

14. Nutrition Middle/late childhood: Average child’s body weight doubles
What Are Central Issues in Children’s Health?
Nutrition
Middle/late childhood:
Average child’s body weight doubles
Food consumption increases with age
Age 1-3: needs 1,300 calories per day
Age 4-6: needs 1,700 calories per day
Age 7-10: needs 2,400 calories per day (needs vary with size, activity level)
Healthy, balanced meals, and eating patterns are most important

15. Motor Development Middle/late childhood:
What Changes Take Place in Body Growth, Brain, and Motor Development?
Motor Development
Middle/late childhood:
Smoother movement, better coordination
Mastered skills become source of pleasure
Boys usually better in gross motor skills
Activity helps refine developing skills
Hands used more as ‘tools,’ steadier by age 7
Age 8-10: more independent with hands
Fine motor skills in writing develop
Age 10-12: manipulative skills like adults

16. Who Are Children with Disabilities?
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Who Are Children with Disabilities?
About 10% of U.S. children receive special education or related services
Learning disability (includes ADHD)
Speech and sensory disorders
Physical disorders
Emotional and behavioral disorders

17. Learning Disabilities
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Learning Disabilities
Learning disability includes:
A minimum IQ level
A significant difficulty in a school-related area
Exclusion of other conditions
Boys classified 3 times more than girls
Diagnosis difficult

18. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Children consistently show one or more of the following characteristics:
Inattention
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity

19. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Many possible causes; heredity may play role
Undergoes extensive evaluations
Usually treated with stimulant drugs
Controversial

20. What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Educational Issues
Public Law (Education for All Handicapped Children Act)
Requires that all children with disabilities be given free, appropriate public education
Renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990

21. Educational Issues IDEA amendments in 1997
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Educational Issues
IDEA amendments in 1997
Use of instructional technology
Use of assistive technology
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Least restrictive environment (LRE)
Mainstreaming renamed inclusion

22. Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Written statement that spells out program tailored to child with disability
Related to child’s learning capacity
Designed to meet child’s individual needs
Designed to provide educational benefits

23. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
What Are the Prevalent Disabilities in Children?
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Child with disability must be educated in setting as similar as possible to one in which children without a disability are educated
Inclusion: educating special-needs child full-time in the regular classroom