Physical Development
Children
Ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 11
Body Growth
Early Childhood
Slower > infancy
Asynchronies unique patterns of
maturation
 Rapid - lymph tissue
School-Age Children
Slow regular pattern
Brain Development
Early Childhood
90% adult brain
weight
Myelination
Lateralization
Cerebellum - gains in
motor control
Reticular formation
School-Age Children
Mylenation continues
Nutrition
Early Childhood
School-Age Children
Concerns about
decline in appetite
Obesity
Health Problems and Injuries
Early Childhood
Unintentional Injuries
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Auto accidents
Fire
Drowning
Falls
Poisoning
Firearms
School-Age Children
Unintentional injuries
continue to be
problematic
Vision - myopia
Illness - asthma
dramatic increase
Motor Development
Early Childhood
Gross Motor
Balance improves
Simple to complex
Fine motor
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Self-sufficiency
Hard: Tie shoes
Drawing
School-Age Children
Gains: Flexibility,
balance, agility, force
Improved reaction
time
Drawing - improved
organization, detail,
depth cues, 3
dimensions
Factors Influencing
Motor Development
Body build
Opportunities
Encouragement
Play: Early Childhood
Nonsocial activity: onlooker behavior,
solitary play
Parallel play: plays near with similar
materials
Associative: separate activities but
interact
Cooperative play common goal, same
product
Play: Early Childhood
Parallel and solitary play remain stable,
significant aspect of play
Cognitive maturity defined by types of play
Functional -- simple, repetitive
Constructive
Make believe - - Sociodramatic play
Play: School-Age Children
Peer acceptance
Peer rejection
Controversial children - (mixed ratings)
Neglected children - seldom chosen, shy
- actually usually do ok
Play: School-Age Children
Predictor of psychological adjustment
Rejected - most problematic
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Rejected aggressive
Rejected withdrawn