1. Physical Development During the First Three Years
Chapter 4
Physical Development During the First Three Years

2. Development of the Brain
By age 6, almost adult size.
Brain growth spurts: coincide with changes in cognitive behavior
Cerebrum, largest part of brain, divides into halves
Lateralization, specialties of each hemisphere; left: language and logical thinking; right: visual and spatial functions
Integration: groups of coordinated cells
Differentiation: each neuron becomes specialized

5. Development of the Brain
Corpus callosum, joins the two hemispheres with visual and spatial functions
Each cerebral hemisphere has four lobes: occipital (visual), parietal (touch sensations and spatial information and facilitates eye-hand coordination), temporal (hearing and language), frontal (higher functions, speech, reasoning)

6. Brain cells Neurons: nerve cells- send and receive information
Glial cells: support and protect the neurons
Myelination: coats the neural pathways, allows for efficient and fast signals to travel
Reflex behavior: controlled by lower brain centers, involuntary (breathing, heart rate)
Plasticity: malleability, modification, specificities

7. Senses Touch and pain develop first (rooting reflex)
Smell and taste develop in the womb
Hearing develops in the womb
Sight develops at birth

8. Motor development Milestones: see Table 4-5 (page 142) Conception
Embryo: after about two weeks following conception.
Fetus: Recognizable as a human after about 2 months (at 1 inch!)
Most significant brain development occurs within the first 3 years of life

9. Apgar Scale Sign 1 2 Appearance Pulse Grimace Activity Respiration1 2
Appearance
Blue & Pale
Body Pink, Limbs Blue
All Pink
Pulse
Absent
Slow (<100)
Rapid
Grimace
None
Coughing & Crying
Activity
Limp
Weak
Strong
Respiration
Irregular, slow
Good, Crying

10. Between ages 10-12, the brain appears to undergo other significant changes (for executive functions: judgment, self-control, emotional regulation, and planning)
The temporal lobes (responsible for language and emotional control) do not fully develop until age 16)
Perceptual development occurs during the first two years
Within first 6 months, strong attachment to caregivers
Shows preference for people they want to be near, especially when stressed, at about 7 or 8 months

11. Newborn
Nutrition: most important factor for physical growth and development. Importance of antibodies.
Failure to thrive: 4 to 8 months following birth (r/o nutritional disorders vs. neglect)
Scheduling: putting baby on feeding schedule (4 hours); not recommended now as much.  

12. Recommended now: Comfort your baby:
comfort baby when they cry
feed them when they are hungry
play with them when they are awake
“spoil” them as much as you can! (studies show that baby must learn that they have an effect on their environment, and therefore control over their own experience. Important for cognitive and social development
babies need to know that they can make things happen
being responsive to baby 

13. Encouraging frequent associations between:
crying and being picked up
sucking and obtaining nourishment
gurgling and hearing another voice reply
Some evidence that babies who cannot predict if or how their behavior will affect their caregivers are slower to develop than those whose caregivers react to their demands with relevant actions.

14. infants must experience the benefits of self-motivation
babies thrive where there are many opportunities to watch, touch, and manipulate things for themselves.
babies who are restricted in their play and put on rigid schedules from birth may be apathetic.
repeated frustration teaches them that their own actions do not matter.

15. The emergence of social smiling is a milestone because smiling serves the adaptive function of drawing adults to them.
After about 6 months, generally friendly towards strangers.
Between 6 – 8 months, stranger anxiety occurs.
Separation protest (separation anxiety) appears at about the same age.

16. Nutrition: Breastfeeding
Breast milk almost always the best food
Milk is more digestible
Reduces allergic reactions
Minimizes numerous infections
May reduce risk of SIDS
Better cognitive performance

17. Brain Growth

18. Regions of the Cerebral Cortex

19. Regions of the Cerebral Cortex