Understanding Children

1. Understanding Children From Birth to Age 2

2. Development • This refers to the change or growth that occurs in a child. • During the first year after birth the child is called an infant. • From the 1st year until their 3rd birthday, the child is a toddler. • Preschoolers describe children age 3 to 6.

3. Areas of Development • Physical development refers to physical body changes. (vision, hearing) • Gross motor involves improvement of skills using large muscles. (running, skipping) • Fine motor involves small muscles. (cutting, drawing)

4. Areas of Development (cont.) • Cognitive also called intellectual refers to mental processes used to gain knowledge. (reasoning, imagination) • Social-emotional are interrelated. Social is learning to relate to others. Emotional involves the expression of feelings. (trust, fear)

5. Characteristics of Development • Development tends to proceed from the head downward- cephalocaudal principle. • According to this, the child 1st gains control of the head, then arms, then legs. • Development also proceeds from the center of the body outward- principle of proximodistal development. The spinal cord develops before outer body parts.

6. Characteristics of Dev. (cont.) • Another example- arms develop before hands. • Maturation- refers to the sequence of biological changes in a child. Children must mature to a certain point before learning new skills. • Each child develops at his or her own rate.

7. Physical Dev.- first 2 years • Growth is rapid. • Activities, schedules, etc. must be adapted as children grow. • Much of the 1st year, is spent on developing motor skills.

8. Size and Shape • An infant’s weight may change daily. • Average infant weight is 7 lbs., it doubles 5 months later, yearly ave. is 22 lbs. • Infant length ave. is 20 inches, grows 10 to 12 inches within 1st year, 2 to 6 inches more by age 2. • Boys are slightly heavier and taller than girls by age 2.

9. Reflexes • At birth, an infant’s abilities are limited to reflexes- an automatic body response to a stimulus. (blinking for ex.) • Reflexes are checked to assess brain and nerve development.

10. Reflex Types • Rooting Reflex- They turn their head toward anything that brushes their faces, once an object is near their lips, they will start to suck. • Moro Reflex- startle reflex, when a newborn is startled by a noise or sudden movement, fling out arms and legs, then draw together and cry loudly.

11. Reflex Types (cont.) • Palmar Grasp Reflex- When you put something in the palm of their hand, they will grip it tightly. (a rattle for ex.) • Babinski Reflex- When stroking the sole of their foot, toes will fan out, curl and the foot twists in. • Stepping or walking reflex- when infant is held with feet on flat surface, they will lift one foot over another in stepping motion.

12. Motor Sequence • Refers to the order in which the child is able to perform new movements. Depends on brain and nerve development. • 1st months- head and trunk control develop • 4 or 5 months- can roll over • 4 to 6 months- can sit upright • Gradually they can pull themselves up, then crawling begins shortly after the child can roll onto the stomach.

13. Motor Sequence (cont.) • Crawl- child pulls with arms and wiggles the stomach. • Creep- support weight on hands and knees and goes forward. • Hitching- move arms and legs, slide buttocks across the floor. • Seek help for kids way behind the norms.

14. Walking Sequence • Immature stage- upright position difficult to maintain, rigid appearance, loss of frequent balance, short steps taken, toes turned outward, arms held above waist, legs spread wide. • Mature stage- step length increases, legs closer together, relaxed appearance, arms held at side, balanced maintained.