1. Physical Development Across the Lifespan
Psychology, Dr. Lycke

2. Newborn to 2 months
Physical development begins at the head, then moves to other parts of the body. For example, sucking comes before sitting, which comes before walking.
Can lift and turn head when lying on back.
Hands are fisted, the arms are flexed.
Neck is unable to support the head when infant is pulled to a sitting position.
Primitive reflexes are in place.

3. 3 to 4 Months Better eye-muscle control allows for tracking.
Begins to control hand and feet actions.
Begins to use both hands, working together, to accomplish tasks.
Swipes at objects to bring them closer.
Increased vision allows infant to tell objects apart from backgrounds.
Baby push-ups!
Can sit up with support.
Primitive reflexes are disappearing.

4. 5 to 6 Months
Able to sit alone without support for up to 30 seconds or more.
Infant begins to grasp blocks or cubes using the ulnar-palmar grasp technique, but does not yet use thumb.
Infant rolls from back to stomach. In a baby push-up, can look around and reach for objects.

5. 6 to 9 Months Crawling may begin. Furniture cruising.
Walk with hand holding.
Infant is able to sit steadily, without support, for long periods of time.
Infant learns to sit down from standing.

6. 9 to 12 Months Infant begins to balance while standing alone.
Infant takes steps holding a hand.
May take few steps alone.

7. SENSORY DEVELOPMENT
Hearing begins before birth and is mature at birth. Prefers the human voice.
Touch, taste, and smell are mature at birth. Prefers sweet taste.
Vision: newborn infant can see 8 to 12 inches.
Color vision develops between 4 to 6 months.
By 2 months, can track moving objects up to 180 degrees, and prefers faces.
Inner ear (vestibular) senses, the infant responds to rocking and changes of position

8. Childhood – Gross and Fine Motor Development
Toddler (1-2): walk without help, jump in place, go up a staircase, hold a cup of water, scribble with a crayon, copy a circle, ride a tricycle, and build a tower of blocks.
Preschooler (3-5): stand on one foot for ten seconds, hop or skip, swing and climb, throw and catch a ball, use a fork and spoon, draw a person with a body, may be able to take care of toileting needs.
School-Aged (6-12): more graceful and coordinated movement, good hand-eye coordination, cut and paste, swim, play soccer, play basketball, hike, and play video games.

9. Adolescence (12-20) – Puberty and Physical Maturity
Girls begin to develop breast buds as early as 8 years old. Breasts develop fully between ages 12 and 18.
Pubic hair, armpit, and leg hair begin to grow at about age 9 or 10, and reach adult patterns at about 13 to 14 years.
Menarche typically occurs 2 years after breasts and pubic hair appear, age The average age of menarche in the US is 12.
Girls’ growth spurt peaks around age and slows around age 16.

10. Adolescence, cont.
Boys genitals start to grow as early as age 9. By age 17 or 18, genitals are usually at adult size and shape.
Pubic hair, armpit, leg, chest, and facial hair appears about age 12, and reaches adult patterns at about 17 to 18 years.
Boys’ puberty is not a sudden incident, like the beginning of menstrual periods in girls.
Boys' voices change at the same time the genitals develop.
Boys' growth spurt peaks around age 13 ½, slows around age 18.

11. Early Adulthood (Ages 20–40)
physical maturation is complete
height and weight may increase slightly
physical abilities are at their peak (muscle strength, reaction time, sensory abilities, and cardiac functioning)

12. Aging Process in Early Adulthood
changes in vision and hearing (twice as quickly for men as for women) around 30.
hair can start to thin and become gray around 35
skin becomes drier and wrinkles start to appear around 40
immune system becomes less adept
reproductive capacity starts to decline around 40.

13. Middle Adulthood (Ages 40–65)
Vision
Most people between the ages of 40 and 60 will need corrective lenses.
Around 60, the eyes lose their ability to adjust to objects at varying distance.
Higher risk for certain eye problems such as glaucoma.
Hearing
14% have hearing problems.
Skin & Muscles
Drier skin prone to more wrinkling, particularly on the face.
Age spots and blood vessels more apparent as the skin continues to dry and get thinner.
Muscle-to-fat ratio changes, with an accumulation of fat in the abdominal area.

14. Middle Age, continued Fertility
Onset of menopause (women) around 50 years old.
Hormonal changes in men and women can cause anxiety, poor memory, inability to concentrate, depressive mood, irritability, mood swings, and decreased interest in sexual activity.

15. Later Adulthood (65 +) Average life expectancy in the US is 80 years
Lifespan varies by SES, region, and access to medical care.
Women tend to live longer than men by five years.
Hearing and vision deteriorate (cataracts develop)
Skin loses elasticity, reaction time slows further, mobility decreases, and muscle strength diminishes.
Senses are less sensitive (taste, touch, and smell).
Immune system is weakened.
More susceptibility to illness.