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Physical Development of Early Childhood

Physical Development of Early Childhood. Psychology 333 Child Development Dennis H. Karpowitz, Ph.D. Time Period. Ages two to six Preschool Kindergarten First Grade. Changes in Body Size and Proportions. 2-3 inches in height per year About 5 pounds per year Posture & balance improve

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Physical Development of Early Childhood

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  1. Physical Development ofEarly Childhood • Psychology 333 • Child DevelopmentDennis H. Karpowitz, Ph.D.

  2. Time Period • Ages two to six • Preschool • Kindergarten • First Grade

  3. Changes in Body Sizeand Proportions • 2-3 inches in height per year • About 5 pounds per year • Posture & balance improve • Individual differences increase

  4. Skeletal Growth • 45 epiphyses - Cartilage to bone • Skeletal age determined by x-ray • Best measure of physical maturity • By 5 primary teeth start to come in • Care of teeth • Poor among the disadvantaged • Excellent in the middle class

  5. Asynchronous Physical Growth • General growth curve: • Rapid in infancy • Slow in early childhood • Slow in middle childhood • Rapid in adolescence

  6. Brain: Synaptic Growthand Pruning • Brain metabolism peak @ 4 years of age • Accounts for plasticity of the child brain • Synaptic pruning • Infrequently stimulated neurons loosetheir connective fibers • Rapid bursts of synaptic growth • High rates of cell death • Plasticity reduced by 10 years of ageto near adult levels.

  7. Brain lateralization • Hemispheres develop at diff. Rates • Specialization • Left Hemisphere: • Dramatic activity between 3 & 6 • Right Hemisphere: • Slow increases between 3 & 6 • Slight spurt between 8 & 10

  8. Handedness • By age 2 handedness is fairly stable • Dominant cerebral hemisphere • Responsible for skilled motor action • Right handedness = Dominant LEFThemisphere.

  9. Handedness Cont. • Left handedness - Motor and language skill shared between hemispheres. • Less strongly lateralized • More likely to be ambidextrous • Outstanding verbal & mathematical skills • Most fetuses lie turned toward the leftin the uterus - this may promote greaterpostural control by the right side ofthe body.

  10. Other brain advances • Cerebellum • Controls balance & body movement • Myelinization not complete until 4 • Reticular formation • Maintains alertness & consciousness • Myelinates throughout early childhood,middle childhood and adolescence • Corpus callosum • Myelinization doest not begin until year 2.

  11. Hormones - Pituitary gland • Growth hormone (GH) • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) • Stimulates the release of thyroxinenecessary for growth & brain develop.

  12. Emotional Well-Being • Stressful home • Respiratory illnesses • Intestinal illnesses • Unintentional injuries • Deprivation dwarfism

  13. Sleep • GH released during sleeping hours • 12-13 hours for ages 2 to 3 • 10 to 11 hours for ages 4 to 6 • Nightmares common between 3 & 6 • 15% children have sleep problems

  14. Nutrition • Appetites decrease due to slower growth • Picky eaters • Need a high-quality diet • Iron, calcium, Vitamins C & A impt. • Disadvantaged children 1 inch shorterby age seven.

  15. Infectious Diseases • Malnutrition • Immunizations • Day care & middle ear infections

  16. Childhood Injuries • Auto accidents, drowning, burns • Complex ecological system • Higher activity levels • Irritability, inattentivenessand negative mood • Poverty & low parent education • US highest in childhood injuriesamong industrialized nations.

  17. Prevention of ChildhoodInjuries – How?

  18. Motor Development • Gross motor development • Balance improves • Runs, jumps, hops, throws and catches, skips • Fine motor development • Self-help skills • Drawing and writing • Body build influences • Enhancing motor development.

  19. Perceptual Development • Differentiation theory • What is the same? • What is unique? • Reading to the child is important • The child will take an increasing active role. • .

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