middle childhood

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Every age has joys and sorrows, gains and losses. But if you were pushed to choose one best time, you might select ages 6 to 11. In middle childhood, many people experience good health and steady growth as they master new athletic skills, learn thousands of words, and enter a wider social world than that of younger children. Life is safe and happy; the dangers of adolescence (drugs, early sex, violence) are still distant.

But that is not always true. For some, these years are the worst, not the best. They hate school or fear home; they may suffer with asthma or learning disabilities, or they may be the victim of bullies. Adults argue over what occurs during these years: Should children with special needs take medication? What do international tests signify? How are children affected by single parenthood, divorce, or cohabitation? The next three chapters describe these joys and problems.