Physical Development

A Changing Body and Brain Add 2-3 inches 5 pounds Average 5 yr. old N. American boy is 43 inches tall & weighs 42 pounds

3 Skeletal Growth Epiphyses-growth centers in which cartilage has hardened into bone Between ages 2-6 approximately 45 Skeletal age Baby teeth –Genetic –Malnutrition/ Obesity –Diseased –Tobacco

4 Brain Development 70%-90% High energy need Preschooler skills Frontal-lobe, Left vs. Right hemisphere Dominant cerebral hemisphere –Handedness: 90% vs. 10% –Reasons

Brain Development Cerebellum Reticular formation Hippocampus Corpus Callosum

Cerebellum Located at the rear and base of the brain Aids in balance and control of body movement –Fibers –Thinking –Damaged

Reticular Formation A structure in the brain stem that maintains alertness and consciousness –Synapses –Generated neurons

Hippocampus An inner brain structure Vital to memory and images of space –Dramatic gains in memory and spatial understanding

Corpus Callosum A large bundle of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres Smooth coordination of movements –The more complex the tasks, the more essential communication is between the hemispheres

10 Influences on Physical Health and Growth Heredity and Hormones Emotional Well-Being Nutrition Infectious Disease

11 Heredity and Hormones Genes Pituitary Gland –Growth Hormone (GH) –Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Emotional Well-Being Cohen & Herbert, Kemeney Psychosocial dwarfism –Is it permanent?

Nutrition Preschooler’s appetites Smaller amounts Adults & peers Bribes High Quality Food –Iron –Calcium –Vitamin A & Vitamin C –½ to 1 inch shorter

Infectious Disease And Malnutrition –Industrialized vs. Developing Vicious Spiral –Diarrhea –Humanitarian Help

Immunization 23%-26% – vs. 10% Denmark and Norway – vs. 7% Canada, Great Britain, and the Netherlands Media Outbreaks

Childhood Injuries Unintentional injuries –35%, 50% –Drowning, burns What’s the leading cause of death among children older than 1yrs? Accidents or preventable occurrences –Temperamental and personality characteristics –Developing countries –Other factors

Preventing Childhood Injuries Many causes= Variety of Approaches –Laws –Modify physical environments –Parent interventions

Motor Development Gross-Motor Development Fine-Motor Development

Gross-Motor Development Bodies become more streamlined –Their center of gravity shifts downward Normal progression –Age 2 thru the end of preschool years

20 Fine-Motor Development Self-Help Skills –Gradual progression –Shoe tying (age 6) Drawing –Realization –Progression sequence: Scribbles, 1 st representational forms, More realistic drawing –Cultural variations Early Printing –Between 4 and 6

Individual Differences Tall vs. Short Boys vs. Girls-Social or Genetic Overall social climate

22 Information Processing Mental Strategies Attention –Inhibition –Vygotsky’s –Planning Memory –Recognition vs. Recall –Familiar events vs. One-time events Theory of Mind/Metacognition Childhood Literacy & Mathematics Mathematical Reasoning 22

23 Language Development Vocabulary Grammar Conversation & Support 23

24 Vocabulary Fast-mapping Types of Words How? 24 1hyperlinkhyperlink

Grammar Basic Over-regularization Complex

26 Conversation & Support Pragmatics Interaction Recasts & Expansions 26