Page 161 - Meeting with Children Book

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Gross motor skills become well developed by middle to late
childhood. Children demonstrate an increase in
coordination in their ability to run, climb, kick and throw.
Physical and athletic ability becomes significant in that
children demonstrate their growing competencies through
physical achievements. There is a variation in gross motor
coordination during this period. Those who do not have
well-developed skills are at risk of peer rejection. There are
also are periods of uneven development in that different
parts of the body grow at different rates during this time,
causing temporary awkwardness.

What can be expected from a normally
developing 8-12 year old?
Look for the following:
8 yrs plus Children are developing their fine motor
skills
They are able to turn, spin and jump
altogether rather than them be separate
motions. Children are improving their
coordination at this age
9 yrs Girls are showing the early signs of
puberty. Children are usually experiencing
a growth spurt, they are getting taller by
growing 2.5 in. and are gaining more
weight at about 5-7 lbs in a year.
Children this age are losing about four
baby teeth a year
10 yrs plus Girls' hips begin to widen and they are
developing breast buds as a result of early
signs of puberty. Agility, speed,
coordination and balance improves
11 yrs plus Children have lost most of their baby
teeth and are braces are very common at