Friendships are very important to children during middle childhood. Because kids want to be popular, liked and respected they can fall victim to peer pressure. The child may start hanging out with the wrong crowd and take part in activities that can get them into trouble.
Changes in the body can be stressful and scary. During middle childhood, children become more aware of their bodies which can lead to negative body issues and eating disorders. During this phase many children think of themselves as "fat" and needing to lose weight.
School becomes more difficult as children prepare for high school. The challenging workload along with other problems can lead to problems in school.
Even though independence can be good in some aspects, children tend to become distant from their families and look toward "friends" for support and guidance. This could be a problem because the child could be led in the wrong direction.