Chapter 10: School-Age Children Development

School-Age Children Development details the physiological stabilization and slower growth rates characteristic of this period, while highlighting significant cognitive and psychosocial milestones associated with Piaget’s concrete operational stage, Erikson’s crisis of industry versus inferiority, and Freud’s latency stage. The text emphasizes the role of the nurse in various settings—including schools, home health, and acute care facilities—focusing on thorough physical assessments that screen for scoliosis, vision and hearing deficits, and dental health as permanent teeth erupt. Considerable attention is devoted to health promotion and safety, addressing the leading causes of mortality such as unintentional injuries from motor vehicle accidents and sports-related trauma, as well as the management of concussions. The chapter also explores complex social and behavioral challenges, including the prevalence of bullying, school avoidance, dyslexia, and emerging risks like vaping and sexting. Furthermore, it provides essential guidelines for pediatric medication administration using weight-based dosing and age-appropriate pain assessment tools like the FACES scale, while introducing clinical judgment tools such as the Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) to identify deteriorating patients and the supportive role of child life specialists in hospital environments.