Introduction
Child development assessment is obtaining primary data about their growth and development. Pediatric patients have different needs depending on age, stages of development and the evaluation findings likely to be obtained for each stage. This paper focuses on assessing the needs of school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 12. It involves describing the physical characteristics/findings of pediatric patients within the age group and means of modifying the assessment to suit a school-aged child, and explaining the typical developmental stages of children the age of 5. It also covers the Piaget developmental theory and its application to developmentally assessing the child. Children within the age group can be handled carefully using various techniques as they mature into adulthood.
Physical Characteristics/Findings of School-Aged Children and Modifying Assessment Techniques
The critical component of the data collected from school-aged children includes physical attributes. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 possess typical physical characteristics and findings that differ from those of other age groups. They are typically well-coordinated, have a more mature physical build, and can participate in sports with recreational exercises for extended periods. They manifest vital signs similar to adults, such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. Kerai et al. (2022) states that youngsters in this age group are already developing permanent teeth and may experience tooth loss. They may start to experience puberty-related changes, such as testicular enlargement in boys and breast development in girls. However, they are highly likely to become overweight and obese due to changes in eating habits and reduced levels of physical conditioning.
Healthcare professionals should be able to describe and modify assessment techniques to suit the care needed by school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 12. When conducting a pediatric assessment of the population, a medical practitioner ought to consider the developmental stage of the child that informs the proper technique to apply for this age group. Medical information for a five-year-old child can mainly be derived from the parent or the caregiver. For a twelve-year-old, the child is mature enough to express themselves clearly. The medical practitioner can use observation to conduct a proper assessment by interacting with the child and drawing a conclusion based on their behavior. In the process, it is essential to use age-appropriate language to explain operations and enlighten the child about their health condition.
Additionally, allowing the child to participate in their care is essential using play-based assessment methods and distraction techniques. Sometimes, the approaches can be modified, such as reading out the questions on a standardized test for a five-year-old and recording their answers. The twelve-year-old can read for themselves, decode and even respond to the questions with minimal guidance (Berchio & Micali, 2022). Throughout the examination, tactful approaches can be used, such as explaining the necessity for physical assessments.
The Typical Developmental Stages of a Child at the Age of 5
Children go through many developmental changes as they continue to grow and learn. The development stages are described based on Stephanie, who is aged 5. Her level of physical development is characterized by being active and is more coordinated such that she can jump, run, skip, and climb easily. She is independent in self-care activities like dressing and brushing teeth. Stephanie can understand more complex concepts, has better reasoning skills, and can comprehend simple cause-and-effect relations. At that age, she can communicate and interact with others more effectively, including developing friendships and she understands the effect of her actions on others. She is developed emotionally and has a stronger sense of individual identity. Stephanie is able to express herself using words and can form more complex sentences. She can follow more complex directions and has a better understanding of grammar and sentence structure. At her age, Stephanie engages in more complex play, can cooperate with others in games, and is greatly interested in imaginative play and storytelling.
Piaget Developmental Stages
Kids develop through different stages through which they develop their cognitive abilities. Piaget pinpointed four main stages of development in children and described the cognitive characteristics and capabilities children possess. For a five-year-old, Piaget’s theory of the preoperational stage can be applied, denoting a child’s knowledge of using language and symbols to symbolize objects and concepts. Assessment of the child is conducted using simple terms and visual aids. According to Pakpahan and Saragih (2022), cooperation can be attained by using child-friendly activities and materials, so the child is not exhausted. Potential evaluation findings include the child’s understanding of objects’ representation using symbols, including pictures and words.
Conclusion
Understanding school-aged children’s physical characteristics and developmental stage is vital for delivering effective care. The medical practitioner can modify assessment techniques to match the child’s developmental stage. The developmental assessments based on Piaget’s theory can provide valuable insights into a child’s cognitive development. It facilitates the application of age-appropriate assessments and strategies to gain cooperation and better understand a child’s abilities. The understanding enables the provision of appropriate support to promote their development.
References
Berchio, C., & Micali, N. (2022). Cognitive assessment using ERP in child and adolescent psychiatry: Difficulties and opportunities. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 319, 111424. Web.
Pakpahan, F. H., & Saragih, M. (2022). Theory of cognitive development by Jean Piaget. Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(2), 55–60. Web.
Kerai, S., Almas, A., Guhn, M., Forer, B., & Oberle, E. (2022). Screen time and developmental health: results from an early childhood study in Canada. BMC Public Health, 22(1). Web.