Child Growth and Development

Question 1

How is childhood staged?

Answer 1

0-1 year = baby

0-2 years = infant

2-10 years = childhood

11- 13 years= early adolescence

14- 17 = middle adolescence

18-21 years = late adolescence

Question 2

What are primitive reflexes?

Answer 2

Involuntary reflexes that can be elicited from the neonate.

Examples include:

• Rooting
• Grasp
• Moro
• Moro asymmetrical tone and neck reflex (ATNR)

Question 3

How does a baby’s brain increase in weight from birth to 1 year of age?

What causes the increase in weight?

Answer 3

400g at birth →1kg at 1 year

Increase in weight occurs through myelination and synaptogenesis

Question 4

Which region of the brain develops almost completely postnatally?

Answer 4

Orbitofrontal region

Question 5

What are experience-expectant mechanisms?

Answer 5

Environmental input experienced by all species that play a necessary part in the development and organisation of the nervous system.

Question 6

What are experience-dependent mechanisms?

Answer 6

Refers to the way in which unique experiences of each individual baby produce distinctive wiring of their brain.

Enables the individual child to adapt to specific features of the individual environment in which they inhabit.

Dependent on the dyad

Question 7

When do the fontanelles close?

Answer 7

Anterior fontanelle: 18 months

Posterior fontanelle: 2-3 months

Question 8

Label the parts of the neonatal skull on the diagram

Answer 8

Question 9

What is synaptogenesis dependent on?

Answer 9

Experience-dependent mechanisms

Question 10

What is attachment?

Answer 10

Bio-behavioural mechanism activated by anxiety with the aim of reducing stress and restoring security.

Question 11

What does a secure attachment promote? (think domains)

Answer 11

• Emotional
• Social
• Behavioural adjustment
• School achievement
• Peer-related social status

Question 12

At what age does the infant experience their first ‘true’ emotional reaction based on subjective experience?

Answer 12

3 months

Beginning of turn taking & shared positive affection between mother & baby

Question 13

What is emotional regulation? What does this allow?

What are the types?

Answer 13

The process by which positive and negative emotions are kept within bounds, so they are not registered as overwhelming.

Provides ability to function in society

Internalising or Externalising

Question 14

What are the levels of deGangi’s Model of Self regulation?

Answer 14

1) Homeostasis

Learn about internal & external signals (eg: process sensory info and when to signal to others for help)

2) Purposeful communication & planning of thought and actions

Differentiate own throughts and actions from others. Growing awareness of seprate identity

Question 15

What are the Big developmental theories?

Answer 15

1) Stage theories
2) Piaget’s Cognitive development
* Sensorimotor: 0-2yrs
3) De Gangi’s Emotional Regulation
4) Erickson’s Psychosocial
* Stage 1- Trust vs Mistrust
5) Attachment Theory

Question 16

At what age do infants develop the ability to recognise themselves?

What is this test called?

Answer 16

18 months

Gun Rouge Test- place dot on childs head and they should be able to reconise themselves in the mirror

Question 17

Define growth

Answer 17

Dynamic process in which increasing cell size and number and various tissues result in a physical increase in the size of the body as a whole

Question 18

What are the bi-directional quality of exchanges determined by?

Answer 18

1) Emotional tone
2) Rhythm
3) Matchedness
4) Interactive Repair

Question 19

What is the dyad relationship based on?

Answer 19

1) Engagment
2) Predictability
3) Genuiness

Question 20

What are the cephalocaudal and centrifugal principles

Answer 20

Cephalocaudal: refers to the general pattern of physical and functional development followed whereby development follows a head to toe progression

Centrifugal: refers to the growth from proximal to distal directions

Question 21

What are the physical growth parameters?

Answer 21

Weight

Length (0-2yrs)

Height (2yrs +)

Occipito-Frontal Circumference

Question 22

What is the healthy child programme?

Answer 22

The universal preventative programme that begins in pregnancy and continues through childhood.

Evidence based programme of growth and developmental reviews, screening, immunisations, health promotion and parenting support.

Question 23

What are the core purposes of health and development reviews of the healthy child programme?

Answer 23

• Assess growth and development
• Detect abnormalities (for early intervention)
• Assess family strengths, needs and risks
• Give parents opportunities to discuss their concerns and aspirations.

Question 24

What is the national child measurement programme?

Answer 24

Measures height and weight of children beginning 4-5 years of age

Provides data for the child excess weight indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Question 25

What are the developmental demains?

Answer 25

Gross motor: posture and large movements

Fine motor: vision and fine movements

Hearing and speech

Social behaviour and play

Question 26

Which 3 domains must be examined to gain a developmental history if a developmental delay is identified?

Answer 26

Perinatal

Family

Environmental

Question 27

Who is responsible for regulating a baby’s experience-dependent brain growth?

Answer 27

Parents

Question 28

When should you adjust/ use different centile charts?

Answer 28

1) Sex
2) Prematurity- adjust
3) Conditions- eg: Downs

Question 29

Do babies loose weight post birth?

Answer 29

YES

Question 30

If a baby has crossed 2 centiles should you be worried- if so what should you do?

Answer 30

Yes, and refer

Question 31

What are the types of FFT?

Answer 31

Organic: such as pyloric stenosis

Non-organic: eg- Neglect

Question 32

When are the Age & Stage Questionares done?

By whom?

What domains do they cover?

Answer 32

9months -2 yrs

Completed by parents

Cover: Communication, Gross motor, Fine motor, Problem solving, Personal social skills