Human Growth and Development

Toddler (1 to 3 years) -Toddlerhood is sometimes called first adolescence. -This child displaying independence and negativism. -Pride in newfound accomplishments emerges.

Physical growth and development The rate of growth slows during the second year of life. Parents may become concerned because the child has a limited food intake and need reassurance that this is normal. By age of 2 years the birth weight has usually quadrupled and the child is about one –half of the adult height. Body proportions begin to change, with legs longer ad head smaller in proportion to body size than during infancy.

By approximately 33 months, eruption of deciduous teeth is complete, with 20 teeth present. -Gross motor activity develops rapidly, as the toddler progresses from walking to running and riding a tricycle. Physical growth and development

Age 1-2 years: Physical growth: - gains (227 g) or more per month. -grows (9-12 cm) during this year. -Anterior fontanel closes. Fine motor ability By end of 2nd year, builds up tower of four blocks. Scribbles on paper. Can undress self. Throws a ball.

Gross motor ability -Runs. -Walks up and down stairs. -likes push and pull toys. Sensory ability – Visual acuity 20/50

Age 2-3 years physical growth: - Gains Kg/year. -Grows cm/year Fine motor ability -Draws a circle and other rudimentary forms. -Learn to pour. -Learning to dress self. Gross motor ability Jumps. - -Kicks ball. -Throws ball overhead. -A physical maturation occurs the toddler develops the ability to control elimination patterns.

Cognitive Development The early use of language awakens in the 1- year- old the ability to think about objects or people when they are absent. Object permanence is well developed. At about 2 year of age, the increasing use of words as symbols enables the toddler to use preoperational thought. Rudimentary problem solving, creative thought, and an understanding of cause –and –effect relationships are now possible.

Psychosocial Development: The toddler is soundly rooted in a trusting relationship and feels more comfortable in asserting autonomy and separating the self from primary care provider. It will be important to become an autonomous person while learning the patterns that promote interactions with adults and children.

Play: The toddler find the company of other children pleasurable, even though socially interactive play may or may not occur. Two toddlers tend to play with similar objects side by side this is called parallel play. The play time with other children assists toddlers to develop social skills. The imitative behavior helps them to learn new actions and skills. Physical skills are manifested in play as toddlers push and pull objects, climb in and out and up and down, scribble with a pen

Both gross and fine motor abilities are enhanced during this age period. Cognitive understanding enables toddler to manipulate objects and learn about their qualities. Various kinds of objects should be provided for toddler to meet play needs.

Personality and temperament The toddler retains most of the temperamental characteristics identified during infancy but may demonstrate some changes. The increasing independence characteristic of this age is shown by toddler's use of the word “No".

Communication Because of the phenomenal growth of language skills during the toddler period, adults should communicate frequently with children in this age group. Toddlers imitate words and speech intonation as well as the social interactions they observe. At the beginning of toddlerhood, the child may use four to six words in addition to "mama" and "dada". Receptive speech (the ability to understand words) far outpace expressive speech.

By the end of toddlerhood, the three years old has a vocabulary of almost 1000 words and uses short sentences. Communication occurs in many ways,some of which is nonverbal. Toddler communication includes pointing, pulling an adult over to a room or object and speaking in expressive jargon( using unintelligible words with normal speech intonations as if truly communicating in words) Communication

Another communication methods occur when toddler cries, pounds feet or display a temper tantrum. These powerful communication methods can upset parents,who often need suggestion for dealing with them. It is best to verbalize the feelings shown by the toddler, for example, by saying“ you must be very upset that you can't have the candy”. When you stop crying you can come out of your room. And then to ignore further negative behavior. Sometimes an upset toddler responds well to holding and rocking. Communication

Parents and nurses can promote a toddler's communication by: speaking frequently naming objects, explaining procedures in simple terms encouraging speech. A toddler from a bilingual home is at optimal age to learn two languages. Communication