From ages 6 to 12, the 'forgotten' stage of childhood

Barcelona"The quiet stage by definition." That's how some manuals and guides describe the stage of childhood between the ages of 6 and 12, which coincides with primary school. Although perhaps it's not as quiet as it seems. "It's a more blurred stage than the others. In fact, most studies and intervention programs focus on early childhood or adolescence, leaving this period in the background. But it's a crucial stage for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, and represents a window of opportunity for health promotion and the prevention of future problems." in emotional education, dermatology, and respectful parenting.

Some experts speak ofmiddle childhood To situate this age group – in the United States, this period is known as middle childhood–Although, in Estapé's words, it might be more appropriate to speak of preadolescence"This term helps to recognize and legitimize this stage with its own needs, avoiding advancing adolescent expectations that do not fit the reality of children in this age group."

Núria Casanovas, a child and adolescent psychologist and vice president of the Social Intervention Psychology Section of the Official College of Psychologists of Catalonia, explains that children between the ages of 6 and 12 undergo profound changes. "They aren't as dramatic as when they were younger, when the changes were very visible externally, but that doesn't make them any less important." She indicates that at these ages, children consolidate their inner world and certain emotional aspects, build their self-esteem, and find their role within a group. The feeling that they aren't changing much at this stage stems from the fact that they are in a more consolidation phase. "These changes become evident little by little, and therefore, they aren't as noticeable."

From 6 to 8 years old

Establishing different stages within the 6-to-12-year-old range helps us better understand children's development at these different times, although it's important to remember that everything is relative and that each individual may have their own unique development and maturation process, different from that of another child of the same age in certain aspects. "At this stage, children begin to control their impulses and planning skills. There is a maturation in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for controlling emotions. In other words, their brain becomes more mature, their neurons are strengthened, and they feel more capable of self-control," explains Casanovas. Therefore, at this point, they are more capable of operating logically and in an organized manner. They also stop thinking in terms of illusions and become more grounded. As Casanovas says, at this stage, if there are no problems with their environment, children become more emotionally stable.

This brain maturation means that disorders like ADHD, if present, are usually diagnosed from age 6 onwards. "This occurs because children between the ages of 3 and 6 are considered to still be immature in different areas, such as behavioral regulation," explains Asun Díaz, a neuropediatrician and coordinator of the Neuropediatrics Unit at the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona. It is also at this point that learning disorders can be detected, because this is when literacy skills are developed more thoroughly, allowing for diagnosis.

From 8 to 10 years old

At this stage, they are more aware of their identity; they know who they are and have a better understanding of themselves. As Casanovas points out, children at this age are also able to recognize whether they get along well or poorly without passing the buck. When they are younger, and without meaning to, they may often blame those around them instead of acknowledging their own actions. "At this age, the brain begins to make a pruning Synaptic. Synapses are the connections between neurons, and here some connections that aren't very useful begin to disappear. The brain starts to become more efficient,” Casanovas points out.

“Now they are much more aware of things because they are no longer small children and are heading towards pre-adolescence. Therefore, they are more conscious of what is happening around them and are more sensitive to everything. Their social aspect is more defined, and they are concerned both with belonging to a group and with having an identity in this sense,” Díaz emphasizes. She adds that, currently, they also detect how the stages of growth and maturation are progressing. “For example, in neurodevelopment, we always ask them what games they play, because it is a way to assess They don't play anymore"

From 10 to 12 years old

Here's a significant change: the preparation for puberty. "This change hasn't happened yet, but they're already feeling it internally. They're pre-adolescents. They're not yet as intense as they will be when they reach adolescence, and perhaps that's why this stage doesn't attract our attention as much, but changes are occurring in the hypothalamic area of their brain, exacerbated by the hormonal and physical changes they're also experiencing," explains Casanova. She emphasizes that this is a stage to be mindful of, since there are many things children "say internally" at these ages. That's why it's so important to know how to connect with them to understand them, because this is also the time when they begin to feel that their parents no longer understand them.

At this stage, children also want to assert their own personality, find their own rhythm and interests, and, concerned about their inclusion in the group, may experience social conflicts that trigger deeper anxieties. "Families in this age range can feel somewhat helpless because they don't understand that their children can sometimes behave like toddlers and other times rebel like teenagers," Casanovas points out. Therefore, she emphasizes that it's important to anticipate that, at this point, children are not yet consistent, that some aspects are beginning to emerge but haven't yet solidified. "So, we can ask a child of this age to be independent when it comes to helping at home, but we must also anticipate that perhaps half the time they won't want to and will want to go play. Should we work on this? Yes, but without getting angry."

"Everyone prepares us for adolescence, everyone is on high alert, especially during the first three years of life, and then it seems like everything goes smoothly, but there are also some problems. However, my perception is that families are very attentive and look for ways to support their children through all stages," he recalls.