reflective-cd

 

Children often receive advice from adults that sounds reasonable but may overlook important aspects of their development. Choose ONE statement below and analyze it from the perspective of what you learned about social and personality development during middle childhood.

Statements to Choose From

“It doesn’t matter what other people think about you.”

“You’re good at so many things, so there’s no reason to feel bad about yourself.”

“You just need to be more confident.”

“They’re just your school friends. Friendships aren’t that serious at your age.”

“If they don’t want to play with you, just find someone else.”

“Just ignore the bully and they’ll eventually stop.”

“Kids tease each other. It’s just part of growing up.”

“Children adjust quickly. They’ll get used to the divorce.”

“As long as a child has two parents, they’ll be fine.”

“What happens between parents doesn’t really affect the child.”

Analysis

After choosing ONE statement:

1. Why might someone say this? Briefly explain why the advice might initially sound “reasonable”. (5 points)
2. What does it overlook? Use at least THREE specific course concepts from Chapter 13 to explain why the statement may oversimplify development during middle childhood. (25 points)
3. Rewrite the message. Rewrite the original statement so that it can actually be helpful advice for school-aged children who are experiencing social and family issues. (10 points)
4. Reflection. Explain one thing you understand differently after learning this week's material. How might this knowledge change the way you communicate with or support a school-age child? (10 points)