Physical Growth and Development Starter: ‘A baby is a bundle of reflexes’ What is a reflex? Can you name any reflexes?

Development Through the Life Stages: Learning Objectives: Identify and describe the key concepts in physical growth and development. Key Words: Reflexes Allometric Growth Maturation Gross Motor Skills Fine Motor Skills Cephalo-caudal Proximo-distal

Infant Reflexes: Babies are born with a basic number of physical reflexes. The baby does not have to think about these things for them to happen, they happen automatically. A stimulus is what causes the reflex to happen. A response is a reaction to a stimulus. Watch the video and identify the reflexes, their stimulus and response. What is the purpose of these reflexes?

Grasping: (Palmar Grasp)

Rooting:

Sucking:

Diving:

Placing:

Stepping:

Physical Growth 0 to 3 years Average Measurements: Calculate the weight and height increases between each age. What do these figures tell you about physical growth? Age Weight Length Head Circumference Newborn 3.5kgs 50cms 35cms 12 months 10.5kgs 77cms 47cms 2 years 12.5kgs 87cms 49cms 3 years 14.5kgs 96cms 51cms

Allometric Growth:

Physical Development at Different Stages: 0-3 months 3-6 months 6-12 months 12-24 months Can you see any patterns here?

Patterns of Growth: Cephalo-caudal: Head-down Proximo-distal: Middle-outwards

Arnold Gesell - 1880-1961 - ‘Maturation’ Theory Development genetically determined by “maturation patterns” which occur in a predictable sequence. Twin girls study. Motor skills training given, more for one twin than the other. No difference in age when skills were acquired. Suggests that development happens in a pre-programmed way. Gesell devised the ‘milestones of development’ still used today. Coined the terms: Cephalo-caudal and proximodistal. Gesell’s classic study involved twin girls, both given training for motor skills but one given training for longer than the other. There was no measurable difference in the age at which either child acquired the skills, suggesting that development had happened in a genetically programmed way, irrespective of the training given. A child learns to whether or not an adult teaches him/her, suggesting physical development at least is largely pre-programmed. By studying thousands of children over many years, Gesell came up with “milestones of development” - stages by which normal children can accomplish different tasks. These are still used today.

Questions? Homework: Conception and Pregnancy Puberty Menopause Lifestages Essay Hand-In Date: 5th December