Physical
Development,
Middle Years
ECE1075
Agenda
Screens and physical development
Physical Development in Middle Childhood
Work on Video Resource Assignment
Generation IPad
Generation IPad Video (ABC News, 2013)
After watching the video, discuss how ipads and other
screens impact physical development.
Middle Childhood = the period of development
between the ages of 7 and 11
“Physical growth during
the elementary school
years continues at the
steady pace established
during the preschool
years” (Kail & Zolner,
2024, Chapter 11, 11.1,
L01).
What Patterns of Growth
Occur in Middle Childhood?
Growth spurt – Increase in height in legs
more than trunk.
Height and weight
◦ Gain 3.5 kg per year and 5-7 cm per
year.
Boys and girls are about the same size
for most of these years until girls begin
puberty toward the end of elementary
school.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, 11.1, L01)
11-5
Obesity in Middle Childhood
Obesity – When a person accumulates excessive fat that poses
a risk to health. This can also lead to challenges in social and
emotional well-being.
Environmental factors
◦ Parents using food as rewards or making children finish their plates.
◦ Sedentary habits
◦ TV watching and videos games - encourages snacking, exposes children to commercials for food, and is a low physical activity.
Junk Food Ads and Kids
Genetics, stressors and emotional reactions also can play a role.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L02)
11-6
Supporting Health Children
Teach children about nutrition
Eat together as a family
Encourage children to become more active
Prep homecooked meals together
*Focus on health over body image.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L02)
How would you discuss these snacks with an 8-
year-old child?
Tooth Development
Start losing teeth around 5 or 6 years.
They will lose about four per year for the next
five years. By age 12, they will have
approximately 24 teeth.
Tooth decay in baby teeth can affect
permanent teeth.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L03)
Vision and Hearing
Less ear infections. Eustachian tube (inner ear to throat)
becomes longer and more curvy.
Myopia = nearsightedness
Lens projects images of distant objects in front of the retina
instead of on it, meaning they look fuzzy instead of sharp.
Children who spend 2 or more hours a day outside are less
likely to develop this. Why do you think this is?
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L04)
By the time children are 11, they can throw a ball
three times farther and jump twice as far than when
they were 6.
Children have greater dexterity and can participate in
activities such as typing, writing, drawing, piano, etc.
Girls tend to excel in fine motor skills.
Motor Girls excel in gross motor that requires flexibility and
balance.
Development Boys excel in strength-based skills such as throwing,
catching, and kicking.
All children need opportunities to practice these
skills.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, 11.2, L05)
Fine Motor
6-7 years – children tie shoelaces and hold pencils as adults do.
Other abilities continue to improve in early school years. ie. Brush teeth,
use knife and fork, fasten buttons, etc.
Fine motor – greater dexterity.
Gross Motor
Eager to participate in group games and athletic activities that require
large muscles such as catching and throwing.
Take a look at the ELECT document at Physical Development for School-
age Children (5-8 years). Think of a group game/activity that would bring
in several of these skills.
You can do a virtual activity and get us all moving or tell us about
something you would do.
Are Children in Canada Physically Fit?
51% of Canadian children are considered inactive. (64%
if you include adolescents).
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L06)
Reasons for decline in fitness:
◦ Too much TV
◦ More focus on sports than continuous exercise
◦ Participation in organized sports declines after age ten
Fit children usually have parents who exercise and
encourage them to exercise
COPYRIGHT © 2015 BY NELSON EDUCATION LTD.
Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Eating
What are some programs
in your community that
change eating habits and
encourage children to be
more active?
Ex. ACTi-Pass
Let's explore the participaction report card:
https://www.participaction.com/en-ca/resources/children-and-youth-report-card
Beach Ball
Stretch Break
Each colour represents a different exercise.
Touch toes
Tornado
Chair pose
Jumping Jacks
Reach clouds
Knee to elbow
Lunge
Squat
https://wheelofnames.com/
Physical Education
School is the primary role in laying the foundation for good exercise
Low quality and not enough physical education has become a factor
Children spend 20% of physical education class being inactive
Lower income schools are less likely to have sports covered
Physical education should focus on more than sports. Engage in more
activities that promote lifelong fitness. ie. Hike, swim, walk. What else?
Parents can encourage physical activity by going for walks and bike rides
together.
(Kail & Zolner, 2024, Chapter 11, L07)
Organized Sports
What are some of the pros and
cons of organized sports? Read
Participating in Sports, pg. 299-
301 in your textbook.
https://stuconestogacon.sharepoint.c
om/:w:/s/CC_course542127/ETbE-9J
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Video Resource Group Assignment
Review – Think Feel Act: Empowering Children in the Middle Years to see
if anything ties into your project.
https://files.ontario.ca/edu-think-feel-act-empowering-children-in-the-middl
e-years-en-2021-01-29.pdf
Group contract should be submitted.
Work on Video Resource for the rest of class.
Video Resource presentations are Week 12
Questions?
Looking Ahead
Week 10 – Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
Week 11 – Social and Emotional Development in Middle
Childhood
Week 12 – Video Resource – 30%
References
ABC News. (2013). Generation Ipad. Could device hurt toddlers
development? Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrQhmcPrhFw
Bergin, C., Bergin, D. (2019). Child and Adolescent Development in Your
Classroom, 1st
◦ Edition found in Child Development: Early Childhood Education;
Nelson, Toronto
Kail, R. & Zolner, T. (2021).Children: A Chronological
Approach 6th edition. Pearson: Toronto
