The Developmental Needs of Children.

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The Developmental Needs of Children

Middle childhood (ages of approximately 6-10 years) is a period of time when children enter the larger culture (primarily through schooling) and develop the intellectual and social skills they need to function effectively outside their family environment.1 Children spend more and more time with non-family members, including peers and teachers. They spend less time under supervision of parents, more under supervision of teachers and other adults, such as coaches, youth group leaders, or teachers. Consequently, they spend more time with peers outside the immediate influence of parents and become more concerned with social expectations of peers and adults. With increased freedom, children feel greater demands to be "good," show respect, and accommodate to social demands of situations, such as the classroom or non-familial social settings. With increasing social experience and the development of new intellectual skills, children:

* Master fundamental skills considered important by culture, such as reading and arithmetic;

* Develop self-awareness, such as knowing how to go about learning;

* Develop skills in consciously planning, coordinating, and evaluating progress, and modifying plans, based on self-evaluation;

* Develop abilities to reflect on themselves and understand that others have different