Required Readings
Blume, L. B., & Zembar, M. J. (2007). Middle childhood to middle adolescence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson [Vital Source e-reader].
Chapter 5, "Affective Development in Middle Childhood" In this chapter, the author provides an overview of how personality, emotions, motivation, and self-esteem develop in children during middle childhood. Focus on the components of self-understanding in children, as well as how aspects of affective development might influence a child's social development.
Chapter 6, "Social Development in Middle Childhood" In this chapter, the author outlines the hallmarks of social and moral development during middle childhood. Focus on the theories of moral development, as well as how social skills and peer relations develop during middle childhood.
This week, you have learned about major concepts and milestones relating to affective and social development in middle childhood. In this assignment, you will synthesize this theoretical knowledge with what you observe during a real-life field study.
Prior to this week, you were asked to arrange to interview two children between the ages of 6 and 12. This week, you will interview these children with the goal of gaining insights into their affective and social development. Before conducting the interviews, be sure to prepare a list of questions. You may use the Week 3 Questionnaire Template below as a starting point. Although you may modify the template as you see fit, you should cover the following four major topics:
Self-concept
Emotional competence
Peer relations
Family and community
During the interviews, be sure to record notes about the children's responses to the questions, as well as any other relevant details or observations on the questionnaire. You will submit the completed questionnaires, including the questions that you asked, notes summarizing the answers that you received, and any other observations, as part of this assignment.
After the interviews, review your notes and reflect on what your findings reveal about affective and social development during middle childhood.
Consider the following:
Are your findings consistent with the concepts you read about in the Learning Resources? How so?
Do any of your findings conflict with the information presented in the Learning Resources? How so, and why do you think this is?
What insights about affective and social development did you gain during the interviews? Did anything surprise you? If so, what, and why?
Write a 1- to 2-page summary describing insights you gained from the interviews. Be sure to address the three questions above.