Physical Development

1. Physical Development

2. Physical Development in Early Childhood

3. Handedness • Preference of using one hand over the other. • Begins as early as 1 year and strengthens; evident at age 3. • Left hemisphere of the brain which controls the right side of the body is more dominant – right handedness. • Right hemisphere dominates – left handed. • 90% are right-handed • Is it genetic?

4. Helping Young Children Sleep • Regular bed time • Early enough for 10-11 hours of sleep • Special pajamas • No TV or computer games before bed • Bedtime ritual • Respond firmly but gently to bedtime resistance • No sleeping medication

5. Nutrition in Early Childhood • Appetite becomes unpredictable • Like familiar foods • Need high-quality diet • Social environment influences food choices • Imitate admired people • Repeated exposure to foods • Emotional climate,parental pressure • Poverty

6. Factors Related to Childhood Injuries • Individual Differences • Gender • Temperament • Poverty, low parental education • More children in the home • Societal conditions • International differences

7. Motor Skill Development in Early Childhood • Gross Motor Skills • Walking, running smoother • Catching, throwing, swinging, riding • Fine Motor Skills • Self-help: dressing, eating • Drawing

8. Artistic Development • Rhoda Kellog: • examined children under 6 years old. • Found universal progression of changes (reflecting brain and muscles maturation). • Scribbles: during 2nd year • Age 3 – draw shapes (circle, square, rectangle, crosses, X) …. Combine shapes into more complex figures. • Pictorial stage (age 4 to 5 years) • Progression from abstract form and design to depicting real objects --- reflects cognitive development of representational ability.

9. Artistic Development • First Representational Forms • Label already-made drawings: around age 3 • Draw boundaries and people: 3–4 years • More Realistic Drawings: preschool to school age • Early Printing: Ages 3–5

10. Development of Children’s Drawing

11. Development of Printing in Early Childhood

12. Variations in 3-Year-Olds’ Pencil Grip

13. Individual Differences in Motor Skills • Body Build • Taller, longer limbed better at running and jumping • Sex • Boys: better at power and force • Girls: fine motor skills, balance, foot movement

14. Enhancing Early Childhood Motor Development • Mastered through everyday play • Formal lessons have little impact • Daily routines support fine motor development • Provide appropriate play space and equipment • Promote fun and positive attitude

15. Physical Development in Middle Childhood .

16. Body Growth in Middle Childhood • Slow, regular pattern • Girls shorter and lighter until about age 9 • Lower portion of body growing fastest • Bones lengthen • Muscles very flexible • All permanent teeth arrive

17. Middle Childhood Growth Worldwide • Shortest children: South America, Asia, Pacific Islands, parts of Africa • Tallest children: North & central Europe, Australia, Canada, U.S. • Secular trend in industrialized countries toward larger and heavier children

18. Common Health Problems in Middle Childhood • Vision – Myopia • Hearing – Otitis media (middle ear infection) • Malnutrition • Obesity • Bedwetting • Illnesses • Injuries

19. Causes of Myopia • Genetics • Myopic parents • Asian heritage • Early biological trauma • Low birth weight • Experience • Reading & close work • Computer use

20. Nutrition Problems in Middle Childhood • Little focus on eating • Fewer meals with family • Too few fruits and vegetables • Too many fried foods and soft drinks • Poverty and lack of nutritional food

21. Causes of Obesity in Middle Childhood • Overweight parents • Early rapid growth or malnutrition • Low SES • Family eating habits • Response to food cues • Low physical activity • Television

22. More likely to be overweight adults Health risks Blood pressure, cholesterol Respiratory problems Diabetes Liver, gall bladder Cancer Psychological risks Feeling unattractive Stereotyping and teasing Depression Problem behaviors Early puberty and sexual problems Risks for Obese Children

23. Illnesses in Middle Childhood • More acute illnesses first two years of school • Exposure • Still developing immune system • Chronic Diseases - 15–20 percent • Asthma • Severe illnesses – 2%

24. Accidents in Middle Childhood • Most common types: • Motor vehicle • Bicycle • Pedestrian • Prevention • Teach safety • Model safe behavior • Require helmets • Watch high-risk children more

25. Motor Development in Middle Childhood • Gross Motor Skills Improvements • Flexibility • Balance • Agility • Force • Fine Motor Skills Gains • Writing • Drawing

26. Six-Year Old’s Drawing

27. Eight-Year Old’s Drawing

28. Ten-Year Old’s Drawing

29. Individual Differences in Motor Skills • Body build • Sex • Family encouragement, expectations • SES • School & community lessons available

30. Physical Play Development in Middle Childhood • Child-Organized Games with Rules • Sports • Invented Games • Video Games • Adult-organized Sports • Physical Education

31. Providing Developmentally Appropriate Sports • Build on children’s interests • Emphasize enjoyment • Let kids contribute • Teach age-appropriate skills • Limit practices • Discourage unhealthy competition • Focus on personal and team improvement

32. Rough and Tumble Play • Friendly chasing and play-fighting • Informal and spontaneously organized • Seems universal • Common in many mammals and across cultures • Peaks in middle childhood • Boys do more • May help establish dominance hierarchy