Middle Childhood (Competency vs. Inferiority)
Erikson’s middle childhood stage includes children entering school age, from ages six to eleven years old. These children are learning to adjust to many new social and academic demands, and when children succeed in these areas, they feel a sense of pride, fulfillment, and competency. However, if they fail in either of these areas, they can experience feelings of inferiority.
As children are placed in an academic and social setting, they begin to learn what it is like to compare themselves and their abilities with others. They learn many new things daily, and if they are able to keep up with all they are learning they will feel a sense of success and pride. Joining a peer group becomes extremely important to children at this stage, and when a child finds a group where they feel they fit in and are well liked, they will develop confidence, worthiness, and competency. Encouragement from parents and teachers are highly valued and important to developing competency in this stage. Outward …show more content…
For children, successful resolution of each stage highly depends on the child’s relationship with their parents and other social interactions, as well as their own experience. However, not all children go through typical developmental circumstances, and there are several factors that can affect successful resolution of each of Erikson’s stages. As discussed, Erikson’s stages do not fit well for families in poverty, children with intellectual or physical disabilities, children who are gender non-conforming, or for children who experience a lack of support in their home environment. Therefore, Erikson’s stages can be used as a nice guide, but should be followed with the caution that not all children will experience these same milestones at the same
Erikson’s middle childhood stage includes children entering school age, from ages six to eleven years old. These children are learning to adjust to many new social and academic demands, and when children succeed in these areas, they feel a sense of pride, fulfillment, and competency. However, if they fail in either of these areas, they can experience feelings of inferiority.
As children are placed in an academic and social setting, they begin to learn what it is like to compare themselves and their abilities with others. They learn many new things daily, and if they are able to keep up with all they are learning they will feel a sense of success and pride. Joining a peer group becomes extremely important to children at this stage, and when a child finds a group where they feel they fit in and are well liked, they will develop confidence, worthiness, and competency. Encouragement from parents and teachers are highly valued and important to developing competency in this stage. Outward …show more content…
For children, successful resolution of each stage highly depends on the child’s relationship with their parents and other social interactions, as well as their own experience. However, not all children go through typical developmental circumstances, and there are several factors that can affect successful resolution of each of Erikson’s stages. As discussed, Erikson’s stages do not fit well for families in poverty, children with intellectual or physical disabilities, children who are gender non-conforming, or for children who experience a lack of support in their home environment. Therefore, Erikson’s stages can be used as a nice guide, but should be followed with the caution that not all children will experience these same milestones at the same