School Age: Development

Overview

• Focus on child development from ages 5-8
• Development through play and relationships

Key Areas of School Age Development

Understanding School-Age Development

• Play: Integral for learning and development.
  • Involves physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
  • Videos and articles support play's importance.
• Puberty:
  • Early puberty: before 8 years (girls), 9 years (boys).
  • Late puberty: after 13 years (girls), 14 years (boys).
• Gender Diversity in Puberty:
  • Support needed for some children experiencing anxiety.

Tracking Development and Concerns

• 5-6 Years:
  • Emotional development, social play, improved coordination.
  • Need for independence and support.
• 6-8 Years:
  • Enhanced play, friendships, and cognitive skills.
• Developmental Issues:
  • Regression: Loss of learned skills.
  • Developmental Delay: Slower skill acquisition.

ADHD

• Characteristics:
  • Attention, hyperactivity, impulse control issues.
• Management:
  • Support strategies and possible medication.
• Friendships:
  • Social skills development through structured interactions.

Language Development

• General Development (5-8 years):
  • Learning complex sentences, pronunciation.
• Language Delay:
  • Delayed language milestones need professional intervention.
• Speech Disorders:
  • Includes stuttering and other speech issues.
• Selective Mutism:
  • Inability to speak in specific situations warrants professional help.

Social & Emotional Development

• Emotion Management:
  • Recognizing and managing emotions is key.
  • Activities like puppet play and emotional learning.
• Self-Regulation:
  • Critical for learning and social interactions.
• Calming Techniques:
  • Strategies to help children manage strong emotions.
• Resilience and Self-Compassion:
  • Building resilience through relationships and practical skills.

Creative Development

• Activities:
  • Encourage drama, art, music, and dance for growth.

Sexual Development

• Typical Behaviors:
  • Curiosity about bodies, needs monitoring for harmful behavior.
• Education:
  • Early education on body parts and consent.

Gender Diversity & Dysphoria

• Support:
  • Critical for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
  • Importance of family and professional support.

Other Topics

• Behaviour and Communication
• Family Life and Health
• Media, Technology, and Safety
• School Learning and Sleep
• Resources and Support Networks

Support and Resources

• Raising Children Network: Supported by Australian government agencies and research institutes.
• Professional Partners: Include Parenting Research Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.