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. 2012 Feb;17(2):81-3.
doi: 10.1093/pch/17.2.81.

Spotlight on middle childhood: Rejuvenating the 'forgotten years'

V Kandice Mah  1 , E Lee Ford-Jones
Affiliations

Spotlight on middle childhood: Rejuvenating the 'forgotten years'

V Kandice Mah et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Middle childhood, from six to 12 years of age, is often known as the 'forgotten years' of development because most research is focused on early childhood development or adolescent growth. However, middle childhood is rich in potential for cognitive, social, emotional and physical advancements. During this period, the brain is actively undergoing synaptic pruning and, as such, is constantly becoming more refined, a process that is heavily dependent on a child's environment. This discovery opens the door to optimizing the experiences a child needs to provide themselves with a strong foundation for adulthood. The present article reviews the neurological changes that occur in middle childhood, their impact on overall development and how to implement this knowledge to augment a child's capabilities.

La période intermédiaire de l’enfance, de six à 12 ans, est souvent connue comme « les années oubliées » du développement, car une bonne partie de la recherche est axée sur le développement de la petite enfance ou la croissance à l’adolescence. Cependant, cette période est riche en potentiel sur le plan du progrès cognitif, social, affectif et physique. Le cerveau subit activement un élagage synaptique et devient donc de plus en plus raffiné, un processus qui dépend lourdement de l’environnement de l’enfant. Cette découverte ouvre la porte à l’optimisation des expériences que vit l’enfant afin d’établir des assises solides pour l’âge adulte. Le présent article aborde les changements neurologiques qui se produisent pendant la période intermédiaire de l’enfance, leurs répercussions sur le développement global et la mise en œuvre de ces connaissances pour accroître les capacités de l’enfant.

Keywords: Development; Neurobehavioural; Physical activity.

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