Physical Development in Early Childhood

Physical Development in Early Childhood Body growth slows Shape becomes more streamlined. 2-3” in height/yr 5 pounds/year Skeletal growth continues. New growth centers emerge. Lose baby teeth

Brain Development in Early Childhood Significant brain growth between ages 2 and 6: Grows to 90% of adult size Reshaping and refining Overabundance of synaptic connections supports plasticity Cognitive skills also increase. Physical coordination, perception, attention, memory, language, logical thinking, and imagination Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Age-Related Changes in Synaptic Density of Three Areas of Cerebral Cortex Involved in Language Processing Figure 8.2

Brain Development in Early Childhood (continued) Frontal lobe areas for planning and organization develop. Left hemisphere active Language skills Handedness Differences in rate of development between the two hemispheres suggest they continue to lateralize during early childhood.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Handedness Begins as early as 1 year and strengthens 90% are right-handed (in Western nations) Affected by experience Position in uterus Practice Culture Early damage to left hemisphere may cause shift in handedness. However, most left-handers have no developmental problems and are more likely to excel in both verbal and math skills. © Jarenwicklund | Dreamstime.com Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Cross-Section of the Human Brain Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Influences on Physical Growth and Health Heredity and hormones Emotional well-being Psychosocial dwarfism Sleep Nutrition Infectious disease Immunization Childhood injuries © Ron Chapple Studios | Dreamstime.com

Heredity and Hormones Size and growth related to parents Genes influence pituitary gland to release: Growth hormone (GH) acts directly, but also stimulates release of insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which triggers cell duplication. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) prompts release of thyroxine; necessary for brain development and proper growth.

Nutrition in Early Childhood Appetite becomes unpredictable. Like familiar foods Social environment influences food choices. Children who have a nutritionally deficient diet have more attention difficulties. poorer mental test scores. behavior problems, especially hyperactivity and aggression. © Haitao Wang | Dreamstime.com Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Infectious Diseases in Childhood About 20% of American infants and toddlers are not fully immunized. Rate is higher for poverty-stricken children. One in five children under age 5 in the U.S. have no health insurance and limited access to care. In other industrialized nations, free medical examinations are standard. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding provides care for many, but some eligible children are not enrolled.

Factors Related to Childhood Injuries Individual Differences Gender— Mothers judge chances of preventing injury in sons to be lower—a belief that might keep them from exercising proper controls. Temperament Risk Factors Poverty, single parenthood, low parental education Societal conditions in developing nations Poverty, child-care shortages, teen parents in the U.S. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Leading causes of death among children aged 1-4, 2007 Age Group Type of Injury Death Rate per 100,000 Population in Specified Age Group 1-4 Years Unintentional Injury 9.6 Congenital Anomalies 3.3 Homicide 2.4 Malignant Neoplasms (cancer) 2.2 Heart Disease 1.1 Influenza and Pneumonia 0.7 Septicemia 0.5 Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period 0.4

Preventing Childhood Injuries Laws prevent many injuries (safety seats, child- resistant caps, flameproof clothing). Many parents and children still behave in ways that compromise safety. Safety seats—40% of parents don’t place their children in child safety seats, and of those that do, 84% either install them or use them incorrectly. Parents expect small children to recall safety rules, rather than monitoring and controlling access to hazards. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Motor Skill Development in Early Childhood Gross-motor skills Walking, running Catching, throwing, swinging, riding Fine-motor skills Self-help: dressing, eating Drawing © Silisia | Dreamstime.com Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Changes in Catching During Early Childhood Figure 8.8 Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Progression of Drawing Skills Scribbles: during 2nd year First representational forms Label already-made drawings around age 3 Draw boundaries and people at 3–4 years More realistic drawings: preschool to school age Early printing: ages 4–6 Figure 8.9

Development of Children’s Drawings of Geometric Objects Figure 8.10 Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Kellogg’s stages of young children’s artistic drawings 2 yrs: scribbles 2-3 yrs: placement stage 3 yrs: shape stage 3-4 yrs: design stage 4-5 yrs: pictorial stage

Development of Printing in Early Childhood Up to Age 3 Scribbles Varied pencil grips Around Age 4 “Drawing print” Between Ages 4 and 6 Gradually realize writing stands for language, identify individual letters Adult pencil grip by age 5 Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Individual Differences in Motor Skills Body build Taller and more muscular bodies move more quickly, acquire skills faster. Sex Boys: Girls: Social pressures help channel activities.

Enhancing Early Childhood Motor Development Mastered through everyday play Formal lessons have little impact. Preschoolers should have at least 60 minutes of unstructured play every day. Daily routines support fine-motor development. Provide appropriate play space and equipment. Outdoor Education Activists: nature play!; exercise but also engages parasympathetic NS in addition to sympathetic