The 'forgotten' childhood? This is what happens in the brain between ages 6 and 12.

In German, there's a term called 'wackelzahnpubertät,' which translates to 'loose teeth puberty.' This term encompasses the mood swings that children begin to experience around age 6, as well as the beginning of a period known as middle childhood.

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Middle childhood, which spans ages six to 12, is a crucial stage because the brain lays the foundation for more mature thoughts and feelings. In other words, these are the years in which a person begins to build their identity while expanding their emotional world.

In fact, some experts have pointed out that, despite its importance, this period tends to be overlooked in research, leading to its being considered "the forgotten years." This is because more attention is often paid to the early years of childhood and adolescence.

But what relevant changes occur during this intermediate period?

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Emotional understanding

Over the course of these six years, it is estimated that the person begins to have a greater understanding of their feelings, which leads to greater rational inquiry and greater awareness of their actions.

Added to this is greater independence in their actions. This is because during this stage, children begin to form friendships and follow rules of behavior. In fact, this process often includes developing a broader vocabulary to describe and understand what they feel, including the concept of mixed emotions.

As Simone Dobbelaar, a postdoctoral researcher in developmental and educational psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands, explained to the BBC, "middle childhood is a period in which 'reciprocal friendships' begin to develop."

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During this stage , social skills and the mental acumen to think like others also develop .

In this search for identity, self-doubt also begins to appear. The reason is that the more in tune we are with the mental life of others, the more we begin to worry about their opinion of us. Hence, we begin to develop greater self-awareness.

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