Write a 4–5 page research paper discussing how peer relations and bullying affect the development of children and how schools and communities can address the issue.
The middle childhood period is filled with marked growth and change. Children during this span of time undergo significant physical, cognitive, and emotional changes. Most children during this time frame are in Piaget's concrete stage of cognitive development. In this important cognitive stage, children become quite competent at inductive logical thought. This is very useful as they learn more complex mathematical operations such as complex addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in school. During this age range, the diagnosis of learning impairments may occur.
The influence of the peer group is increasingly strengthened during the middle childhood period. Children become very concerned with friendship and peer relationships. Often the issue of bullying comes up in the school setting. Bullying can be physically aggressive or what we call relational. In relational bullying, children may tease or socially exclude others. Contrary to popular belief, bullying is not a rite of passage but a serious social issue that can have devastating consequences for both the aggressor and the victim. Due to access to technology, cyberbullying via e-mail and social media may be another venue within which aggressive social interactions take place.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 1: Describe the physical, social, and cognitive aspects of child development.
Describe the different roles children play in bullying.
Explain the developing importance of the peer group in older children.
Describe proactive strategies that families, schools, and communities can adopt that address the bullying problem.