Life Span Development II School Age and Adolescence

Life Span Development II: School age and Adolescence 3 (2+1)

Lesson 2 :Physical growth and development during late childhood

Factors for physical development in late childhood

1. Sex differences: Girls at every age during this period tend to be slightly heavier & taller than boys. They get their permanent teeth slightly earlier than boys. Boys tend to be slightly stronger and lighter in weight than girls. Their head and face grow larger than girls.

2. Socio economic status: The physical growth of the children in general is influenced by socio economic status, birth weight and height. The children of upper and middle class families tend to achieve good physical growth than children from lower classes.

3. Emotional tension: Placid children grow faster than those who are emotionally disturbed.

4. Immunization: Children who are immunized against diseases during the early years of life grow larger than those who are not.

5. Good health and nutrition: These two are important factors for physical growth and development. Better the health and nutrition better the physical growth and development.

6. Body built: It affects both height and weight in late childhood. The ectomorphic children (slender body type) have less weight than mesomorphic (heavier body type) children. Children with mesomorphic built grow faster than those of ecto or endomorphic built and reach puberty soon.