Middle Childhood Development

Middle Childhood Development: A Contextual Approach is a new and integrative resource for practitioners who work with children ages 6 through 12. With a focus on the historical and cultural context of middle childhood and on developmental pathways, this text explores the ways in which middle childhood is considered both a stage of development and a transitional period.  An Emphasis on ApplicationCurrent research is translated into practical applications for educators, parents, and other professionals.  See the feature Guideposts for Working with School-age Children for examples.  In addition, “Stop and Reflect” questions embedded in the text also allow readers to integrate and apply the chapter content to their own lives. An Integrated Discussion of Research and Theories Based on recent research findings, the authors provide suggestions on what to expect and how to interact with children in middle childhood.Rather than one abstract introductory chapter, psychological theories of development are applied throughout the text to address particular chapter content in integrated sections called Theoretical Viewpoints.  Each chapter also has a cumulative table of the theories presented in that chapter. Each chapter includes key research on the ecologies of home, school, and community highlighted in separate sections called Contexts of Development. In each chapter, pedagogical boxes called Roadmap to Understanding Theory and Research and Roadmap to Successful Practice are included that alert students to key illustrations of chapter content.