2 1. Introduction 2. Fact or Fiction? 3. The Peer Group 4. Families and Children 5. The Nature of the Child 6. Closing Thoughts.

2

1. Introduction

2. Fact or Fiction?

3. The Peer Group

4. Families and Children

5. The Nature of the Child

6. Closing Thoughts

Introduction

3

[Video: Socioemotional Development Introduction]

4

Fact or Fiction? Fiction Fact

1. School-age children typically are more self-critical than they were when they were younger.

2. Children in a shared home environment tend to react to family situations in a similar way.

3. Acceptance by their peer group is more important to school-age children than having a few close friends.

4. Bullying during middle childhood seems

to be universal.

Socioemotional Development

5

The Culture of Children

culture of children: The particular habits, styles, and values that reflect the set of rules and rituals that characterize children as distinct from adult society.

What are some factors that shape a culture of children?

Friendship and social acceptanceChildren learn how to be a good friend.

Gender differences persist in activities.

Boys and girls want best friends.

Friends chosen for common interests, values, backgrounds.

Popular and unpopular childrenaggressive-rejected children are disliked because they are antagonistic and confrontational.

Withdrawn-rejected children are disliked because they are timid and anxious.

Social awarenessSocial cognition is the ability to understand social interactions, including the causes and consequences of human behavior.

Culture of Children

friendship is a symmetrical, one-to-one relationship.Popularity is a group concern.

Social Acceptance

Does being popular relate to being personally liked for girls in grade school and middle school?

5 7 9

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

Relationship between being liked and being thought popular

8Grade

9

Social Acceptance

[Video: An Observation of Children During Middle Childhood Clip E]

Children’s Moral Codes

10

How did 133 9-year-olds respond to a moral dilemma?Repair Harm or Hurt the Transgressor?

Percent Who Chose to Repair Harm

Average Scores (Maximum 3) on Broken Window Plus Two New

Stories

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0At first An

hour later

Two weeks later

Eight weeks later

Percent Score

At first An hour later

Two weeks later

Eight weeks later

2.9

2.7

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.9

1.7

1.5

Boy-boy Girl-girl

Mixed sex

No interaction

Source:

Lem

an

& B

jörn

berg

, 2

01

0.

Source:

Lem

an

% B

jörn

berg

, 2

01

0.

Bullies and Victims

bullying: Repeated, systematic efforts to inflict harm through physical, verbal, or social attack on a weaker person.bully-victim: Someone who attacks others and who is attacked as well.

What are some possible long-term consequences?

Shared and Nonshared environment

16

What are some parent-driven and individual-driven influences on siblings in a family?

Shared parent influences

Nonshared individual influences

moves

job changes for parent(s)

divorce

family’s socioeconomic status

age

genes

resilience

gender

school and afterschool activities

neighborhood peers

Material necessities

Learning

Self-respect

Peer relationships

Harmony and stability

Family Function and Dysfunction

17

What do children age 6 to 11 need from their families?

family function: The way a family works to meet the needs of its members. family structure: The legal and genetic relationships among relatives living in the same home.

Although children eat, dress, and sleep without help, families can furnish food, clothing, and shelter

Families can support, encourage, and guide education

Because children become self-critical and socially aware, families can provide opportunities for success

Families can welcome friendships

Families can provide protective, predictable routines

18

Family Trouble

Low-income, high conflict Financial stress increases conflict

and vice versa, affecting family function and structure

The effects of poverty are cumulative

Low SES may be especially damaging to children ages 6 to 11

High-income, high conflictParental pressure on the children to excel causes stress in middle childhood

This may lead to children’s drug use, delinquency, and poor academic performance in high school

The Weight of Family Conflict

Psychoanalytic TheoryHow do children ages 6 to 11 enact the theories of Erikson and Freud?

19

Girls stay away!

Boys stink.

Self-ConceptWhat factors affect how children perceive themselves in middle childhood?

Social comparisonThe tendency to assess one’s abilities, achievements, social status, and other attributes by

measuring them against those of other people, especially one’s

peers.

Self-Concept

21

[Video: An Observation of Children During Middle Childhood: Clip F]

Coping and Overcoming

22

resilience: The capacity to adapt well to significant adversity and to overcome serious stress.

What are some accumulated stresses that children experience?

Source:

Surv

ey d

ata

gath

ere

d b

y H

ow

ard

J.

Oso

fsky

et

al., of

Louis

iana S

tate

Univ

ers

ity;

rep

ort

ed in V

iadero

, 2

00

7, p.7

.

Stresses Experienced by New Orleans Children as a Result of Hurricane

Katrina

Had been separated from a primary caregiver

Had homes damaged in the storm

Had moved

Had transferred to a new school

Had lost a family member or friend

Had a parent who was unemployed

Had been separated from a pet

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Percent

Coping and Overcoming

23

[Video: Excerpts from Up: Paul and Simon, Two Children Who Lived in a Group Home]

24

In what ways do children build their social competence/skills during middle childhood?

Closing Thoughts