PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

What do we think of when we talk about physical development?

Height Weight Hair color Eye color Senses  Smell  Taste  Hearing  Vision  Touch

Also includes motor skills:  Fine Motor Skills – involve small muscles in the body. Example – muscles that control your fingers.  Gross Motor Skills – involve larger muscles in the body. Example – muscles that are in your legs, shoulders and arms

What affects physical development? Prenatal Care Genes Overall Healthiness Nutrition Experiences and Exposure Environment

Physical Development in Infancy Average Birth Statistics MalesFemales LengthWeightLengthWeight Birth 19 3/47 ½19 1/27 1/2 6 months 26 1/217 1/225 1/215 1/2 1 year /22921

Physical Development in Infancy… From birth to 1, babies normally triple their birth weight Average stats are just that…pediatricians watch for steady growth rather than hitting specific marks. Chart boys and girls separately.

Average Growth Charts

Growth in the first year Babies gain approximately 1 pound per month. Height is referred to as length at this stage of life because babies are measured laying down. Bone growth is rapid during this stage.

Growth in the first year Heredity genes play a role in increase in length. Head and abdomen are normally larger than the legs and arms (disproportioned). Soft spot on head to allow the brain to grow.

Physical Development in Infancy Vision:  Takes about a week before babies eyes can focus.  By 6 months, vision has clarity and sharpness of an adult.  Begin to have depth perception around 2 months  Eye muscles continue to strengthen  Can see vibrant colors and patterns

Physical Development in Infancy Hearing:  Can hear when they are born (an infant hearing test is administered shortly after birth)  Respond to sound/tones rather than specific words.  By 7 months, babies can recognize parents voices (and other voices who the babies hear on a regular basis)  Hearing abilities can affect language and speech development.

Physical Development in Infancy Speech:  Though babies are not “talking,” the muscles in the throat and mouth strengthen to help babies develop speech abilities.  Babies will mimic what they hear

Physical Development in Infancy Motor Skills Babies have little control over their muscles when they are born. Must gain coordination, as well as build muscles During the 1 st year, gross motor skills develop more than fine motor skills

Physical Development in Infancy Gross Motor Skill Development  Turning head, waving arms, kicking legs  Holding up head/controlling neck  Rolling over  Sitting up  Push up format  Army crawling  Up on all fours – arms and legs  Crawling

Physical Development in Infancy Fine Motor Skills  Clenching fists  Hold toys in their hands  Picking up objects and food  Holding their own bottles Hand-Eye Coordination  Begins developing around 3 months  Can move objects purposefully around 1 year