school age

• School-age period


  Begins when children start elementary school, at 6 years old, and lasts until they have finished primary education at around 12 years of age
• School-age period


  • Characterized by slow physical growth and accelerated social development, compared to earlier stages
• School-age children


  • Become more independent and start to participate in various sports and social activities, and are now able to socialize with people other than family members, such as teachers, peers, and coaches
• Developmental psychologists involved in studying development during the preschool period


  • Jean Piaget
  • Erik Erikson
  • Lawrence Kohlberg
• Growth


  Physical changes in height, weight, and the appearance of the body
• Development


  Acquisition of complex motor, cognitive, and social skills, such as walking, speaking, turning a page in a book, or smiling at familiar faces
• Growth of school-age children

  • Tend to get taller at a slower pace, growing about 6 to 7 centimeters each year
  • Expected increase of 3 to 3.5 kg per year in weight
  • Children of the same age are frequently at different points in their growth during childhood
• School-age children


  • Start to have feelings about how they look and how they're growing, so it's not uncommon that they become more interested in stepping on the scale or standing by a tape measure
• Motor development of school-age children


  • Refine fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and become more skilled at things like writing, drawing, and playing a musical instrument
  • Coordination, balance, and rhythm improve, allowing children to learn new activities, such as riding a two-wheel bike, dancing, and participating in a variety of sports
• Concrete operational stage


  (According to Piaget) Children begin to understand their world in terms of words and images, develop the ability to arrange things according to their common or different characteristics (seriation), and begin to collect things like rocks and other objects
• Sense of conservation


  Children understand that objects or quantities can remain the same, even if their physical appearance changes
• Industry vs inferiority


  (According to Erikson) School-aged children face the task of becoming eager to increase their knowledge about the world around them in home and school, and learn new social skills. When supported, they develop a sense of accomplishment, competence, and industry. If not supported, they may develop a sense of inadequacy and inferiority.
• Conventional stage of moral development

  (According to Kohlberg) School-age children begin accepting social rules about what is right and wrong, and they have a desire to be "good" in order to win other people's approval
• School-age children


  • Thrive on learning the music, language, traditions, holidays, values, and other aspects of their culture, and they may develop a desire to understand more about their religion and cultural beliefs
  • Tend to imitate parents, family members, and other important figures, like teachers or coaches, so role modeling is very important to shape their sense of right and wrong
  • By the end of the school-age years, children can understand the concept of the "golden rule" which helps to guide them to treat others as they'd like to be treated
• Nervous system changes in school-age children

  • Brain and skull grow very slowly, and brain growth is complete by the time a child reaches 10 years old
• Respiratory system changes in school-age children

  • Development of the lungs and alveoli, resulting in fewer respiratory infections
  • Respiratory rate decreases, and respirations become more diaphragmatic
• Cardiovascular system changes in school-age children

  • Increase in blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate
  • Growth of the heart as an organ slows down, and is smaller in size in relation to the rest of the body than at any other developmental stage
• Musculoskeletal changes in school-age children

  • Increased strength and coordination
  • Bones continue to ossify throughout childhood, but mineralization is not complete
• Gastrointestinal system changes in school-age children

  • All deciduous or baby teeth are gradually lost and replaced by a new set of permanent teeth, except for the third molars, called the wisdom teeth, which come in later
  • Stomach capacity increases, which allows food to stay in the stomach longer
• Balanced diet for school-age children

  Vegetables and fruits to make up over half of the plate; grains and proteins to occupy the other half of the plate, with grains taking a slightly larger portion; dairy products, such as milk or yogurt, to provide the recommended daily amount of calcium
• Immune system changes in school-age children

  • More mature immune system means they experience fewer infections compared to earlier years, and they are better equipped to fight off invading pathogens
• Important vaccines for school-age children

  • Yearly influenza shot
  • HPV vaccine
  • MenACWY
  • Tdap vaccine
• Genitourinary system changes in school-age children

  • Increase in urinary bladder capacity, which enables them to spend longer periods between voiding
  • Almost all children have full bladder control and they are able to spend the night without wetting the bed
• Keeping school-age child safe in the car

  1. Always secured in an appropriately sized booster seat for the child's weight and age

  2. Stay in the backseat

  3. Continue to use a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, which is typically around 10 to 12 years of age
• Keeping school-age child safe when riding a bike or using a skateboard

  Always wear a helmet
• Creating a safe environment for school-age child

  1. Secure medications and household chemicals so they are out of reach

  2. Keep the number for poison control nearby in case of accidental poisoning

  3. Keep weapons secured in a lock box, out of reach of their child

  4. Teach their child how to dial 911 in the case of an emergency
• Promoting healthy nutrition for school-age child

  1. Offer 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks daily

  2. Include nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products

  3. Limit fruit juice, soda, and foods high in sugar and saturated fat, as well as the consumption of fast foods

  4. Role-model healthy eating habits

  5. Offer meals at the same time each day, and try to minimize distractions for television and cell phones during mealtimes
• Providing instruction about drugs and alcohol for school-age child

  1. Explain how drugs and alcohol use can be harmful

  2. How to respond to peer pressure

  3. Information from advertisements and social media about drugs and alcohol use
• Ensure school-aged child is up-to-date on their vaccinations