Written Assignment #5
University of the People
EDUC 5410-01 Child Development
Dr. Jessica Jones
October 5, 2022
The middle years and adolescent stages of human development present some of the most
challenging aspects and situations in our life. A lot of changes and transitions happen in these
stages which could cause stress and anxiety particularly to students. These changes do not only
refer to physical growth but are also evident in how children think, act and relate with others, and
acquire or establish values and principles that will serve as bases on how they carry out their
judgment.
Middle childhood spans the years between early childhood and adolescence, children are
approximately 6 to 11 years old. Physical growth rates are generally slow and steady during
these years. However, growth spurts do occur during middle to late childhood (Paris, Ricardo,
Raymond, & Johnson, 2021). During this time, they also tend to slim down and gain muscle
strength and lung capacity in order for them to engage with strenuous physical activity. This is
the time when students are best entered in sports as they are improving in their gross and fine
motor skills in relation to their brain growth and experience during this period (Tyler, n.d).
As for cognitive development, they are able to represent ideas and events more flexibly
and logically. Thinking still seems very basic by adult standards and usually operates
unconsciously, but enough to allow them to solve problems more systematically than before, and
be successful with many academic tasks (Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson, 2021). In line
with the concrete operational stage as defined in Piaget’s third stage of cognitive development,
they begin to understand the concept of conservation. They are able to determine the similarities
in properties although things might change in appearance (McLeod, 2022), including the
concept of reversibility, which at this stage they can do mentally. An example could be a picture
of a balloon returning to its original shape when air is released.
Socially, middle school students start to form stronger, more complex friendships and
peer relationships. An example is when they form groups during their time in the school
playground or decide to hangout with their friends at the school cafeteria. For them, it becomes
emotionally important to have friends, especially of the same sex. They also experience more
peer pressure as they are forced to conform with the beliefs and preferences of the group (CDC,
2022). In line with Erik Erikson’s theory on psychosocial development, they are at the industry
against inferiority level. At this time, they begin to experience pressure and competition in terms
of their academics and other activities like sports. Any accomplishment that they achieve gives
them pride and failure increases their feeling of inferiority (Cherry, 2022).
In terms of moral development, middle school and adolescents are considered to be at the
early stages of the conventional level. This is a crucial stage for children especially at stage 3,
where most of them work towards being accepted by abiding to society’s conventions concerning
right and wrong. One’s behavior is determined by social approval because of the desire to
maintain or win the affection of others by being a good person (Sanders, 2022). At this level and
stages, students are susceptible to peer pressure because their actions are based on their group’s
approval or disapproval. The danger at this stage is when students are engaged with peers who
conform with wrong values and judgment. This is where they become vulnerable in trying out
drugs, alcohol, smoking, or even petty crimes just so that they become accepted or live up to the
expectations of the group.
Adolescent stage in terms of physical development is a time for growth spurts and
puberty changes. According to John Hopkins Medicine (2022), an adolescent may grow several
inches within months and then experience a period of very slow growth, then have another
growth spurt.
At this stage as well, sexual and physical maturation hapens as a result of
hormonal changes. Boys have enlargements in their genitals including growth of pubic hairs,
nocturnal emissions, change or deepening of the voice, and appearance of acne. For girls, breast
development begins, and shortly growth of pubic hairs develop and followed by the onset of
menstrual periods (John Hopkins Medicine, 2022).
In terms of their cognitive development, adolescents learn to use symbols related to
abstract concepts. Adolescents can think about multiple variables in systematic ways, can
formulate hypotheses, and think about abstract relationships and concepts (Zhou & Brown,
2015). According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, at this stage, students enter the so
-called formal operational stage. At this period, the individual can “operate” on “forms” or
representations. Students at this level can tackle questions or problems at the hypothetical level
which means that they must manipulate ideas that vary in several ways at once, and do so
entirely in their minds. Teachers at this point may now pose higher order thinking skills, type of
questions or essential questions that would elicit students’ achievement of enduring
understanding.
Social development for adolescents in line with Erikson’s stages is on identity and role
confusion. At this stage, the focus is on building richer and deeper relationships with others,
both of the same and opposite sex which results to the value of fidelity and loyalty (Cherry,
2022). This is preceded by the concept of self-identity which is defined as beliefs, ideals, and
values that help shape and guide a person's behavior. (Cherry, 2022). Adolescents at this stage
are entering the most turbulent time of their lives as they are in danger of having role confusion
when they are not properly guided. An example is when they are labeled or seen as something
good at one thing but in fact, that is not truly what they want or what they actually are (Seifert &
Sutton, 2009).
References
CDC (Ed.). (2021). Developmental Milestones. CDC.gov.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/infants.html
Cherry, K. (2022). Industry vs. Inferiority in Psychosocial Development. Very Well Mind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/industry-versus-inferiority-2795736
John Hopkins Medicine (Ed.). (2022). The Growing Child: Adolescent 13 to 18 Years. Hopkins
Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/
the-growing-child-adolescent-13-to-18-years
McLeod, S. (2022, August 18). Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development. Simply Psychology.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson. (2021, January 5). Middle Childhood - Physical
Development.Libre Texts Social Sciences. https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/
Early_Childhood_Education/Book%3A_Child_Growth_and_Development_(Paris_Ricar
do_Rymond_and_Johnson)/10%3A_Middle_Childhood_-_Physical__Development
Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson. (2021, January 5). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive
Development.Libre Texts Social Sciences. https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/
Early_Childhood_Education/Book%3A_Child_Growth_and_Development_(Paris_Ricar
do_Rymond_and_Johnson)/10%3A_Middle_Childhood_-_Physical__Development
Sanders, C. (2022, August 21). Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/Lawrence-Kohlbergs-stages-of-moral-development
Tyler, S. (n.d.). Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. UARK Pressbooks.Chapter on
Phisical Development in Middle Childhood
https://uark.pressbooks.pub/hbse1/chapter/physical-development-in-middle-childhood-ch
_16/