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Chapter 7 Middle Childhood: Growth and Development
Physical Growth and Development
Physical growth among eight- and nine-year-olds shows more
individual variation than at younger ages. The primary reason for this is the
wide range of ages at which puberty begins. A few children show distinct
signs as early as age eight or nine. For others, it may not happen until well
into their teen years. Most children at this stage continue to experience
steady growth. Girls tend to have slightly larger gains than boys.
• Gross-motor skills. Children’s strength increases during this period,
allowing improvement in gross-motor skills. Better body control also
helps children become more graceful. This makes it a good age for
physical activities such as sports, dance, and gymnastics. Physical
activities such as these help children build stamina and confidence.
• Fine-motor skills. Hand-eye coordination also continues to
improve. Children become better at activities that rely on this skill.
They can shoot basketballs with more accuracy and learn to play
musical instruments (Figure 7.9). They also enjoy electronic games
requiring hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes.
Figure 7.9 Hand-eye coordination is important in learning to play a musical instrument.