Functional brain networks develop from a "local to distributed" organization. This study combines resting-state functional connectivity fMRI (rs-fcMRI), graph analysis, community detection, and spring-embedding visualization to analyze four functional networks. Across development, a trend toward 'segregation' (decrease in correlation strength between anatomically close regions) and 'integration' (increase in correlation strength between distant regions) is observed. In children, communities are arranged by anatomical proximity, while in adults, they reflect functional relationships. Over development, functional networks shift from a local anatomical emphasis in children to a more distributed architecture in young adults. Graph metrics like clustering coefficients and average path lengths are similar in children and adults, with both showing 'small-world' properties. Community detection reveals stable communities that differ between children and adults. These findings suggest that early school-age children and adults have relatively efficient systems that may solve similar information processing problems in divergent ways. The 'local to distributed' developmental principle has important implications for understanding the development of neural systems underlying cognition. The results support the hypothesis that functional brain development proceeds from a local to distributed organization, with 'small world' properties present in both children and adults. The study also highlights the importance of considering the interaction between the maturing neural substrate and the use of efficient pathways for general task completion. The findings are consistent with other views of functional brain development, emphasizing the simultaneous segregation and integration of information processing streams. The results suggest that small-world properties are present in late childhood, indicating that efficient graph structures are already in place for both local and distant processing. The study also notes the need for generalization to other regions and modalities, as well as the importance of considering the limitations of rs-fcMRI in examining frequency distributions and hemodynamic response differences. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of functional brain development and the organization of neural systems.Functional brain networks develop from a "local to distributed" organization. This study combines resting-state functional connectivity fMRI (rs-fcMRI), graph analysis, community detection, and spring-embedding visualization to analyze four functional networks. Across development, a trend toward 'segregation' (decrease in correlation strength between anatomically close regions) and 'integration' (increase in correlation strength between distant regions) is observed. In children, communities are arranged by anatomical proximity, while in adults, they reflect functional relationships. Over development, functional networks shift from a local anatomical emphasis in children to a more distributed architecture in young adults. Graph metrics like clustering coefficients and average path lengths are similar in children and adults, with both showing 'small-world' properties. Community detection reveals stable communities that differ between children and adults. These findings suggest that early school-age children and adults have relatively efficient systems that may solve similar information processing problems in divergent ways. The 'local to distributed' developmental principle has important implications for understanding the development of neural systems underlying cognition. The results support the hypothesis that functional brain development proceeds from a local to distributed organization, with 'small world' properties present in both children and adults. The study also highlights the importance of considering the interaction between the maturing neural substrate and the use of efficient pathways for general task completion. The findings are consistent with other views of functional brain development, emphasizing the simultaneous segregation and integration of information processing streams. The results suggest that small-world properties are present in late childhood, indicating that efficient graph structures are already in place for both local and distant processing. The study also notes the need for generalization to other regions and modalities, as well as the importance of considering the limitations of rs-fcMRI in examining frequency distributions and hemodynamic response differences. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of functional brain development and the organization of neural systems.