Final answer:
During middle childhood, children depend less upon external rewards and increasingly regulate their own behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
During middle childhood, children depend less upon external rewards and increasingly regulate their own behavior.
As children progress through middle childhood, which typically spans from ages 6 to 12, they begin to develop greater autonomy and self-control. They rely less on external rewards, such as praise or treats, to motivate their behavior and instead start to regulate their own actions based on their own internal standards and values.
For example, a child in middle childhood may start to brush their teeth regularly not because they will receive a reward for doing so, but because they understand the importance of oral hygiene and want to take care of their teeth.