ABSTRACT
The middle years of childhood, those between the ages of six and twelve, are the years during which the child makes the transition from the beginning of life to adulthood. At the beginning of this period, the child can look back at his great dependence upon his parents, and at the end he can look forward to increasing independence and the threshold of adulthood. Middle childhood is a time when there are relatively steady changes. Increments in height and weight are virtually the same each year. The importance of growth in the development of the child has stimulated a great deal of research on developmental change. The development of motor skills and ability is especially important in middle childhood, for the child's success in school and on the playground depends on his ability to acquire skills in activities valued by his peers.
