Leyslee Palacios

Social Development

Middle childhood is a challenging time and a major challenge in social constructs, as this is the

earliest time when children begin to move away from parental influences and establish more

meaningful peer and other adult relationships. It signifies a new set of social contacts with adults

and other children as well as a wider variety of settings than those that characterize early

childhood. Children begin to see themselves as a part of a bigger whole. Peer influences can

become more powerful than the adults in the children’s life and impact their sense of self. 

Also middle childhood is a time of considerable change, when social competencies, essential for

the development of close and harmonious social relationships, are practiced and refined.

Children's social worlds expand and when children spend increasing amounts of time outside the

direct supervision of parents or other caregivers. As such, self‐regulation and control and the

ability to read and understand the expectations of new social settings are essential for successful

functioning. Self-regulation can be seen as a foundational element in defining what it means to

be human and encompasses the underlying abilities of decision-making, higher-order thinking

and morality.

Physical development in middle childhood is characterized by considerable variations in growth

patterns. These variations may be due to gender, ethnic origin, genetics, hormones, nutrition,

environment, or disease. By the beginning of middle childhood, children typically have acquired

a leaner, more athletic appearance. Girls and boys still have similar body shapes and proportions.

The brain and nervous system development, gross and fine motor skills, and health issues are

also important aspects of physical development during middle childhood.