edu ch. 11
Common Health Problems in Middle Childhood
Overweight and obesity Vision - myopia Hearing - otitis media Malnutrition Bedwetting Illnesses Injuries
School Recess
7% of U.S. schools no longer provide recess to students. About half have recess only once a day. Recess periods do not subtract time from learning; they actually boost children's learning capability. Children may be more active at recess than in gym class. Regular, unstructured recess fosters children's health and competence physically, academically, and socially.
Obesity Rates on the Rise
About 32% of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight. 17% of U.S. children are obese. A dramatic rise in overweight and obesity has occurred in many Western nations. Obesity rates are also rapidly increasing in developing nations. In China, for example, 20% of children are overweight, and 7% are obese—a nearly fivefold increase over 25 years ago. Cultural beliefs may contribute to the problem (view overweight as prosperity).
Individual Differences in Motor Skills
Body build Sex Family encouragement, expectations SES School and community lessons available
Nutrition in Middle Childhood
Causes of poor nutrition: Little focus on eating Fewer meals with family Too few fruits and vegetables Too many fried foods and soft drinks Poverty and lack of nutritional food Children report they feel better and focus better after eating healthy foods. Lingering malnutrition can lead to permanent physical and mental damage.
Physical Play Development in Middle Childhood
Child-organized games with rules Sports Invented games Video games Adult-organized sports Physical education
Health Education for School-Age Children
Children's understanding of the biological processes underlying health and illness increases with age. School-age period is especially important for fostering healthy lifestyles. Gap remains between knowledge and behavior. Adults must improve environment and model good health behaviors.
Illnesses in Middle Childhood
More acute illnesses first two years of school Exposure Still developing immune system Chronic diseases: 5-20% Asthma Severe illnesses - 2%
Rough-and-Tumble Play
Friendly chasing and play-fighting Emerges in preschool years, but peaks in middle childhood Common in many mammals and across cultures More common among boys May help establish dominance hierarchy
Trends in Physical Growth
From one generation to next, trend in industrialized countries toward larger and heavier children Appears early in life Increases over childhood, early adolescence Declines as mature body size reached Mostly due to improved health and nutrition Gains in height have stabilized, but weight continues to increase.
Motor Development in Middle Childhood
Gross-Motor Skill Improvements Flexibility Balance Agility Force Fine-Motor Skill Gains Writing Drawing
Accidents in Middle Childhood
Most common types: Motor vehicle Bicycle Pedestrian Prevention: Teach safety. Model safe behavior. Require helmets. Watch high-risk children more closely.
Vision and Hearing
Myopia (nearsightedness) most common vision problem Affected by heredity, early biological trauma, low birth weight, increased eye strain Increases with SES Otitis media (middle ear infection) common in early childhood Repeated infections may cause hearing loss. Regular vision and hearing screenings recommended
Bedwetting
Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) occurs in 1 in 10 children. Mostly biological in nature Treatment options include medication or a urine alarm
How Americans Became the Heaviest People in the World
Obesity rates began to soar in 1980s. Today, over 1/3 of U.S. children and 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese. Contributing factors: Availability of cheap fat and sugar Portion supersizing Increasingly busy lives Declining physical activity rates
Causes of Obesity in Middle Childhood
Overweight parents Low SES Parents' feeding practices overfeeding overly controlling Low physical activity Television Cultural food environment
The Obesity Epidemic
Overweight rises with age (from 21% of preschoolers to 35% among older students). Over 70% of children who are overweight or obese will become overweight adults, at risk for lifelong health problems. Type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly among overweight children, sometimes with severe, early complications.
Children's Understanding of Health and Illness
School-age children often combine biological explanations with cultural ideas. Unfortunately, children pick up on the negative cultural meanings attributed to diseases like AIDS or cancer. Sensitive education about the causes of disease can help combat irrational fears and foster compassion.
Middle Childhood Growth Worldwide
Shortest Children South America Asia Pacific Islands Parts of Africa Tallest Children North and Central Europe Australia Canada United States
Body Growth in Middle Childhood
Slow, regular pattern Girls shorter and lighter until about age 9 Lower portion of body growing fastest Bones lengthen Muscles very flexible All permanent teeth arrive
Brain Development in Middle Childhood
Weight of the brain increases by 10%, with considerable growth in white and gray matter. Synaptic connections and myelination combine with synaptic pruning, resulting in greater lateralization of cerebral hemispheres. Children acquire complex abilities. Neurotransmitters and hormones may affect cognition and behavior
