UNIT 4: Middle Chil

dhood (The Primary

Schooler)
 The developmental theorist,
Erik Erikson, formulated eight
stages of man's psychosocial
development. Each stage is
regarded as a "psychosocial
crisis" which arises and
demands resolution before the
next stage can be achieved.
 Preschool children
belong to the fourth
stage of Erikson's
Psychosocial Stages.
Here, children have to
resolve the issue on
Industry vs. Inferiority
Erik Erikson's Fourth Stage
of Psychosocial Development
Industry vs. Inferiority is the psychosocial
crisis that children will have to resolve in this
stage.
Industry refers to a child's involvement in
situations were long, patient work is
demanded of them.
Inferiority is the feeling created when a child
gets a feeling of failure when they cannot
finish or master their school work.
 Understanding the Self
One's self-concept is the knowledge
about the self, such as beliefs regarding
personality traits, physical
characteristics, abilities, values, goals
and roles.

It also involves a sense of belonging and

acceptance, a sense of good and a sense
of being capable of doing good.
School Year
s
In the transition from pre-elementary
to primary school, children tend to
become increasingly self-confident
and able to cope well with social
interaction.
The issues of fairness and equality
become important to them as they
learn to care for people who are not
part of their families.
Building Friendsh
ip
Making friends is a crucial but very important
part of children's social and emotional
growth. As soon as they are able to walk and
talk, they will tend to show natural inclination
to be around other children.
Children, during this stage, most likely belong
to a peer group. Peer groups are
characterized by children who belong
approximately to the same age group. It is
found along the stages of childhood through
adolescence.
 or
Some adults may perceive that some
children's behavior towards other
children as antisocial. When children
poke, pull, hit or kick other children when
they are first introduced, it is fairly
normal. Remember that children at this
stage are still forming they own world
views and other children may seem like
curiosity that they need to explore.
Parents and Teachers can help children
make friends.
You can consider the foll
owing:
√ Expose the children to kid-rich environments.
(e.g. playgrounds, park)
✓Create a play group ik your class and let the
children mingle with their classmates.
✓When your children hit other children,
remind them that their behavior hurts others.
✓Coordinate with the parents and other
teachers so that the children will have greater
opportunity to interact with other children.
Self Contro
l
Once children reach school age, they
begin to take pride in their ability to do
things and their capacity to exert effort.
They like receiving positive feedback from
their parents and teachers. This becomes
a great opportunity for parents and
teachers to encourage positive emotional
responses from children by
acknowledging their mature,
compassionate behaviors.
Implications to Child C
are, Education and Pare
nting
Primary school children's socio-emotional
competency should be viewed in the context of
the child's developmental age. Health-care
providers, teachers and parents should be able to:
√gain understanding of their child's socio-
emotional strengths and weaknesses by observing
the child's behavior at home.
√work collaboratively with the child's parents and
health-care provider to expand one's insights on
the child's development.
√provide a supportive setting where children
have opportunities to practice emotional
regulation and social skills with peers.
√give children activities when they can
practice taking turns, sharing and playing
cooperatively.
√be a role model of healthy emotions and
expressing these emotions appropriately.
√demonstrate calmness and staying in control
of one's own feelings.