Know

Developmental milestones are a set of benchmarks consisting of skills and abilities that children reach throughout their lifetimes. Educators and health-care providers use these milestones to check a child’s development. Although each milestone corresponds with an age or grade level, it is important to remember that all children develop at their own pace. It is normal for members of a peer group to reach milestones at a variety of ages, even spanning a few years in either direction.

Physical Developmental Milestones for School-Age Children

School-age children, ranging in age from 5 years to about 12 years of age, will have a vast range in their cognitive development. The same is true for their physical development. Below are general guidelines for physical developmental milestones for school-age children:

• 学龄儿童每年将在四到七磅之间获得，继续高度增加。高度的增加将变化，年龄组的三到六英寸高度差异是典型的。
• 生长刺激在学龄儿童中很常见，同时增长缓慢。生长的儿童通常需要增加卡路里摄入量。生长喷射也可能导致身体部位不成比例。例如，孩子可以留在一个高度，而他或她的脚继续生长。这可能导致学龄儿童感到尴尬或笨拙。这种尴尬或笨拙的感觉通常通过青春期结束。
• 学龄儿童将开始看到他们的运动技能的改善。他们将有更好的控制，协调和平衡。
• Muscle mass increases in school-age children, making them stronger.

Take a look at the chart below for a closer look at how school-age children develop within their age groups. These milestones should never be considered a checklist to evaluate a child, instead use them as a guide for what to expect in typical development.

Brain Development in School-Age Children

在生命的前几年，孩子的大脑在迅速发展。由于变化迅速和生长刺激，从出生到5岁时，儿童的大脑远远焦点。学龄儿童的大脑仍在开发，因为他们了解如何做新事物并以不同的方式思考。学龄儿童能够了解逻辑和具体信息，特别是在自己的生活中。他们可能仍然努力掌握抽象概念，特别是在长期未来发生的事件。学龄儿童开始不那么少，可以思考和理解不同的观点。其他大脑功能开始改进，如：

• Concentration: School-age children are able to focus on a task or topic. They also begin to develop methods of ignoring distractions when they have a task to focus on.
• Memory: Both long- and short-term memory skills improve in school-age children. They can recall important things from months or even years in the past and remember where they left their jacket after outdoor time.
• 注意广度: School-age children can focus on important tasks for longer periods. They begin to read longer books, stay interested in topics at school, and may participate in long-term projects.

Brain development is a form of physical development—it is a part of a child’s body that is growing and changing. The three major brain functions mentioned above allow school-age children to develop their motor skills and participate in sports and other physical activities.

青春期:会发生什么

This age group will experience body changes that come with the beginning of puberty. This happens when certain hormones become present and begin to create changes to parts of our bodies. Sometimes these changes can be drastic and seem to happen overnight, while other times they happen gradually over a few years. The changes that accompany the onset of puberty can often be confusing and even scary for school-age children. The average age of beginning puberty is around 12; however, children are beginning to show signs of these changes at a much younger age. It is important for you to be aware of what kinds of changes school-age children could be going through. This will help prepare you to answer questions from children or their families and be understanding and sympathetic to the children in your care.

支持所有学习者

There will be times when family members grow concerned about their child’s development. As a family child care provider, you may also notice a child who doesn’t seem to be developing like his or her peers. It is very important to keep in mind that all children develop at their own pace. This is especially true in school-age children and multi-age environments. If you discover that motor skills are not emerging or growth is not occurring as it should, first discuss your concerns with the child’s family.

The family may have information about their child’s development to share with you. School staff members and health-care providers have resources about school-age children’s physical growth. Keep information available about local community resources (e.g., counseling center, park programs, fine arts programs) so you can refer parents to them.

There are a few key points to remember when supporting all learners in a school-age environment:

• 孩子们以自己的节奏发展。永远不要比较孩子和他们的能力。如果一个家庭成员将他们的孩子与他们的一个同龄人进行比较，鼓励他们不这样做。如果他们觉得它们“不像聪明”作为同龄人，这可能对孩子的发展有害。
• Most children will catch up and be on pace with developmental milestones.
• If you begin to have concerns that a child may not be developing typically, make observations and record the behaviors that cause you concern. Always share your observations with the child’s parents.

If a school-age child in your program has a diagnosed need that affects physical development or physical abilities, she or he should have an individualized education plan, or IEP. You should work with the child’s family to discuss how best to support the child’s development.

在这段视频中，你将看到各种各样的方法将所有学习者纳入体育活动的计划中。

支持所有学员

Influences and Factors Affecting School-Age Growth

有各种各样的外部因素和影响可能会影响儿童的发展。重要的是对这些因素和影响很敏感，并记住所有孩子都会以自己的节奏发展。可能影响学龄儿童发展的主要贡献因素是：

See

观看此视频，因为它解释了有关学龄儿童的物理发育里程碑的一些基本信息。

发展里程碑：学龄儿童

Do

The changes that school-age children go through as they develop and grow can be difficult for children and families to understand. It is important that you provide any resources necessary to answer questions about a child’s development.

• 意识到这是normal for all children to develop at their own pace.
• Support children as they go through changes in their physical appearance.
• 创建支持所有学习者的环境。