ABSTRACT
This chapter explores development that occurs in middle childhood as well as common issues social workers face when working with children in the age range and their families, including those surrounding education, family, the media, and peer relations. Developmental processes that take place in middle childhood can impact individual children and their families in many ways. Some children move through middle childhood smoothly, with no remarkable events that cause concern. Social work with children and their families frequently involves some use of standardized intelligence tests. Standardized intelligence tests as well as other assessments are part of a process to determine whether children have learning disabilities that might necessitate additional services or special accommodations to ensure an adequate education. Social workers can be integral to ensuring optimal development of children who exhibit issues surrounding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This disorder is characterized by consistent displays of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
