Middle Childhood and Adolescence Paper

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Middle Childhood and Adolescence Paper Changes that occur during middle childhood and adolescence are assembled through family and peer relationships. The influences of these relationships will determine how these children cope with future challenges and relationships. The information below will discuss the differences and similarities of middle childhood and adolescent children. Family Structure Family structure is the legal and inherited connection between the people who live in the same household. A family structure can consist of many different family combinations. The family combinations consist of nuclear, stepparent, blended, adoptive, different types of single parents, grandparent, homosexual and foster families. It is important to understand that family function, not family structure holds the responsibility for influencing a well-developed child (Berger, 2010). Functional Family Dynamics A functional family dynamic in middle childhood and adolescence is extremely important for these children to thrive and develop appropriately. In order for this age of children to develop and thrive properly they need their parents to supply them with nutrition, and a stable home. They need their parents to provide assistance and guidance with homework and parental supervision. Children in middle childhood are self-critical and socially aware (Berger, 2010). Therefore, these children need repeated reassurance to promote the child’s self-esteem. Middle Childhood children depend on their parents to accommodate time for them to form friendships with their peers for these children to obtain social adequacy. These children also thrive best in a structured and routine environment, and find it uncomfortable when conflict and alterations to their routine are disrupted. The reason middle childhood children rely heavily on their parents to provide this environment
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