School-Age Child Development: Case Studies
Kris must find out more about the prepubescent changes her school-age daughter is going through, and the nurse can include physical and behavioral factors. For example, girls of that age start their secondary sexual characteristics development which can be identified through breast budding, tenderness, or ache. Besides, their hair growth becomes more intensive and spreads on the underarms and genitalia areas. 11-year-old girls can also experience an increase in height and weight.
The school-age children are aware of the human body, and they begin acceptation their own through the changes it experiences. Pre-adolescents become more interested in the opposite gender and develop their body image based on their peers’ comparisons. Kris needs to be educated to communicate with her daughter regarding body image correctly. She can compliment Gina’s appearance, face, and physical form and share crucial information about gender differences and bodily functions.
The nurse can teach Kris that her daughter develops self-esteem through the comments received from people around her and is willing to achieve goals respectfully among her peers. The mother will notice emotional shifts based on Gina’s temperament, and switching from adapting to protesting must be considered a progress sign.
The nurse can educate Kandis that her son’s self-perception development is based on the comparison to peers. Don must be involved in games with friends, and he can be taught about safety by reminding him that possible traumas might lead him to inability to share activities or attend school.
The children copy the eating behavior and habits of their parents, thus the latter must primarily analyze their own diets’ healthiness. The nurse can teach Kandis that a BMI of 24+ is overweight, and the school-age boy must decrease it to grow up without body image issues or activity limits.
The mother must be taught that the 10-year-old boys do not experience a rapid increase in weight and height and need to consume approximately 2000 calories of food balanced in nutrients. Kandis can include more fruits, proteins, vegetables, and wholegrain into Don’s diet and minimize sugary and fat products to normalize her son’s BMI.