Tools for Exploring the World By: Alison Clarke and Michelle Kay

Temperament The three styles that define temperament ▪ Emotionally: The strength of an infant’s emotional response to a situation, how easily that response is triggered, and how long it takes for that response to return to a nonemotional state. ▪ Activity: The tempo and vigor of a child’s activity. ▪ Sociability: An infants preference for being with other people. ▪Hereditary and environmental contribute to temperament

Stability of Temperament ▪In many cases, the stability of temperament stays the same in newborn to their toddler years. ▪Their certain temperament may change as the become teenagers. ▪Based on an infants experiences their temperament may shape into something different.

Physical Development Growth of the Body: ▪Growth is more rapid in infancy than during any other period after birth. ▪An infants body type depends greatly on heredity. ▪Infants heads tend to be larger than their bodies and as the infant developes, its hips, legs and feet catch up.

Physical Development Nutrition and Growth ▪In an infant, about 40% of its body’s energy is contributed to growth. ▪Since growth takes a lot of energy, babies must consume a large number of calories relative to their body weight. ▪Human milk contains the proper amounts of carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins and minerals babies need.

Physical Development Nutrition in developing babies. ▪New foods should always be introduced to babies one food at a time. This way allergies that may occur can be linked to certain foods and this can prevent reoccurrences. ▪By 2 years of age, growth starts to slow so children need to eat less. ▪“Picky eaters”

Physical Development Malnutrition ▪Malnourished children don’t receive the proper nutrition for a healthy diet. ▪ Children receive inadequate amounts of iron, carbs, protein, fats and vitamins. ▪ Malnourished children also develop less rapidly than healthy children. ▪Especially damaging during infancy because growth is so rapid.

Physical Development Malnutrition ▪Infants with a history of malnutrition sometimes score lower on intelligence tests. ▪They’re inattentive, easily distracted and tire more easily. ▪Malnutrition during rapid periods of growth may cause permanent damage to the brain the the nervous system as a child develops.