Physical Development Early Childhood BODY GROWTH n n
Physical Development Early Childhood
BODY GROWTH n n n 2 to 3 inches (6 -7 cm) in height and about 5 pounds (2 -3 kg) in weight are added each year. Children become thinner. Children lose primary teeth by preschool years. 2
Asynchronies in Physical Growth n General growth curve q q Rapid growth during infancy Slower middle childhood Rapid during adolescence Exceptions: Reproductive and lymph systems 3
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT n The brain increases to 90 percent of adult weight between 2 and 6 years. q q n The two hemispheres of the cortex develop at different rates. q q n Increase in synaptic connections Increase in myelination The left hemisphere shows dramatic activity between 3 and 6 years and then levels off. WHY? Activity in the right hemisphere increases slowly throughout early and middle childhood. Significant development occurs in the prefrontal cortex 4
Nutrition n Slowed growth leads to an appetite decrease q q q Picky eaters seen as adaptive, safe Need a high-quality diet By 7, low-SES about 1 inch shorter 5
Childhood Injuries n Accidents are the leading cause of childhood mortality. q q Auto, fires, and drowning are the most common. Motor vehicle collisions first cause of death for children over 1 Injury Mortality for Children 6
MOTOR DEVELOPMENT n Gross Motor Development q q q Center of gravity shifts downward to the trunk, and balance improves. Preschooler's gait becomes smooth and rhythmic. Now steadier n q New skills like throwing and catching balls, tricycles, and swinging on bars and rings High level of activity 7
Fine Motor Development n Self-Help Skills q n Gradually become self-sufficient at dressing and feeding n Shoe-tying around age 6 Drawing and Writing q First drawings of a person by age 3 or 4 8
Cultural Variations in Drawing n n n In cultures that emphasize art, children's drawings are more sophisticated. Schooling supports drawing. Figure drawing varies by culture but follows the same sequence. U. S. Child’s Drawing New Guinea Child’s Drawing 9
Printing n n Exposure to lines and shapes leads to trying to print letters and, later on, words. Not until reading do kids distinguish between mirror -image forms. 10
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