Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
167
Chapter 7 Middle Childhood: Growth and Development
mastery of basic reading skills allows them to focus on understanding and
thinking about what they read.
Children should be able to recognize most words by sight. This allows
them to concentrate on meaning. Their ability to identify main points,
summarize, and make predictions continues to improve. They learn new
ways to figure out unfamiliar words by using context clues and meanings
of prefixes and suffixes. Reading skills help improve writing, and writing
improves reading. Reading well depends on practice. Children who are
encouraged to read for pleasure are more likely to be good readers.
Any student who still has difficulty reading needs extra help to catch up.
Social-Emotional Development
Eight- to nine-year-olds mature rapidly in additional ways. They
are often eager, friendly, and responsible. They can also be irritable,
critical, and careless. Their improving cognitive skills allow them
to complete more complex tasks, such as organizing their clothes.
Having responsibilities at home and school gives them a sense of
accomplishment (Figure 7.10).
Although praise and
encouragement continue to be
important, children in this stage
begin to be sensitive. Children do
not want others to talk down to
criticize them. They are beginning
to appreciate reasonable
explanations, since they are
becoming more rational thinkers.
Peer Relationships
Socially, eight- and
nine-year-olds like to be part
of a group. They want to have
friends. Children at this age may
have a best friend. They look
for someone who will share in
activities and who will give them
acceptance and loyalty. It is at
this time in their development
that children belong to several
groups, such as scouts and a
sports team.
Figure 7.10 Children who learn to care for a pet develop
responsibility.