School-Age Growth and Developmental Milestones Pediatric Nursing NCLEX Review

Summary

This video provides an in-depth exploration of the development of school-aged children (6-12 years), covering key aspects of their cognitive, physical, and emotional growth. It discusses the emergence of skills like motor coordination, problem-solving, and language use, alongside the importance of peer relationships and social development. The video also highlights theories such as Erikson's psychosocial stages, Piaget's concrete operational stage, and Kohlberg's moral development. It emphasizes the challenges school-aged children face, including self-esteem issues and the need for emotional support, offering practical strategies for caregivers and educators to foster healthy development.

Takeaways

• 😀 School-aged children (6-12 years) experience significant physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
• 😀 Growth milestones include physical development like increased height (2.5 inches per year) and weight gain (4.5-7 pounds per year), as well as the loss of baby teeth.
• 😀 Cognitive growth includes improvements in memory, attention, problem-solving, and the ability to understand conservation (e.g., quantity remains constant despite changes in appearance).
• 😀 Moral development follows a progression: early on, children conform to rules for rewards or punishments, but by age 10, they start following rules for social order and law.
• 😀 Children in this age group begin to develop stronger peer relationships and social skills, including empathy and understanding diverse perspectives.
• 😀 Erikson's theory of Industry vs. Inferiority highlights the importance of children mastering tasks to build self-esteem and avoid feelings of inferiority.
• 😀 Piaget’s concrete operational stage (7-12 years) involves the shift from egocentric thinking to the ability to think logically about concrete situations.
• 😀 Kohlberg's moral development theory suggests that children follow rules initially for rewards and later based on societal expectations (Law and Order orientation).
• 😀 School-aged children can better classify objects based on characteristics like size, color, and function, a skill that helps them organize their world.
• 😀 Safety precautions like helmet use, seatbelts, and water safety are essential, as children in this age group are at risk of accidents and injuries.
• 😀 It’s crucial to address and prevent bullying, as children’s self-esteem can be severely affected by social challenges or peer rejection.

Q & A

What age range does the school-aged child fall under?

The school-aged child falls between the ages of 6 to 12 years old.

What are the key motor skills developed in school-aged children?

School-aged children develop both fine motor skills (like writing, drawing, and typing) and gross motor skills (such as riding bikes, skating, swimming, and participating in team sports).

How does cognitive development progress in school-aged children?

Cognitive development in school-aged children includes increased attention, memory, and the ability to solve math problems. They also develop skills in reading, classification, and conservation, which are foundational for later learning.

What social changes occur during the school-age years?

School-aged children start forming peer relationships and caring more about others' perspectives. Friendships often form within the same gender, but this can change as they approach adolescence. They also engage in various types of play, such as cooperative, competitive, and constructive play.

What is the importance of the 'SCHOOL' acronym in understanding child development?

'SCHOOL' is used to highlight key aspects of development in school-aged children: Skills, Changes, Obstacles, Harmful risks, Outcome of hospitalization, and Learning developmental theories. It serves as a helpful framework for remembering essential developmental milestones and considerations.

How do physical changes manifest in school-aged children?

Physical changes include growth in height (about 2.5 inches per year) and weight (4.5 to 7 pounds per year), as well as the shedding of baby teeth and the eruption of permanent teeth. Puberty also begins in this stage, typically earlier in girls (ages 8-13) than in boys (ages 9-14).

What are some key safety concerns for school-aged children?

Safety concerns for school-aged children include proper use of protective gear during physical activities (like biking and skating), drowning risks in swimming, stranger danger, fire and gun safety, and traffic safety, including proper use of booster seats and backseat riding.

How can parents help school-aged children with their self-concept?

Parents can help children with their self-concept by highlighting their strengths, setting achievable goals, providing positive feedback, and helping them cope with failures. Ensuring that children feel competent in their abilities is crucial for their self-esteem.

What is bullying, and how can it affect school-aged children?

Bullying involves harm or intimidation by another child, often through physical means in boys and verbal/rumor-based means in girls. It can lead to physical injuries, withdrawal from school, poor academic performance, and emotional issues like depression or suicidal thoughts.

What role do developmental theories (Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg) play in understanding school-aged children?

Developmental theories provide insight into how school-aged children grow emotionally, cognitively, and morally. Erikson’s 'Industry vs. Inferiority' stage focuses on children developing competence, Piaget’s 'Concrete Operations' stage marks the transition to logical thinking, and Kohlberg’s moral development theory outlines how children begin to understand rules and fairness.