Infancy & Toddlerhood

Question 1

What is the cephalocaudal principle vs the proximodistal principle?

Answer 1

With the roximodistal principle, Development starts at the center of the body and moves outward toward the limbs. While, with the cephalocaudal principle, development proceeds from the head downward.

Question 2

How much do newborns sleep?

Answer 2

Newborns sleep approximately 16-18 hours a day, though not consecutively. (50% of the day)

Question 3

What is SIDS, and how can it be reduced?

Answer 3

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby during sleep. it can be reduced by placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm sleep surface, and keeping the sleep area free of soft bedding.

Question 4

What is object permanence?

Answer 4

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, typically developing around 8-12 months.

Question 5

What are fine motor skills?

Answer 5

Skills involving small muscle movements, such as grasping and writing.

Question 6

What are gross motor skills?

Answer 6

Skills involving large muscle movements, such as crawling and walking.

Question 7

Why is breast milk important for newborns?

Answer 7

It provides essential nutrients and antibodies that help build the baby’s immune system.

Question 8

What is malnutrition?

Answer 8

A condition resulting from an improper balance of nutrients, leading to health issues.

Question 9

What is marasmus and kwashiorkor?

Answer 9

Marasmus and kwashiorkor are two distinct forms of severe protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) caused by inadequate intake of calories and/or protein. Marasmus is primarily a deficiency of all macronutrients, leading to severe wasting and emaciation, while kwashiorkor is predominantly a protein deficiency

Question 10

When is it recommended to introduce solid foods to an infant?

Answer 10

Around 4-6 months, while continuing breastfeeding until at least 6 months.

Question 11

Name 3 infant reflexes and describe them.

Answer 11

1. Rooting: Turning the head toward touch.
2. Sucking: Sucking when roof of mouth is touched.
3. Palmar Grasp: Grasping objects placed in hand.
4. Moro Reflex: Startle response to sudden movement.

Question 12

How does body growth in height and weight during the first two years compare to other periods after birth?

Answer 12

It is greater during the first two years than at any other time after birth.

Question 13

What is the fastest-growing organ in early development?

Answer 13

The brain.

Question 14

What are synapses and neurotransmitters in the brain?

Answer 14

synapses are connections between neurons; neurotransmitters are chemicals that cross synapses to communicate between neurons.

Question 15

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 15

The elimination of seldom-stimulated neurons and their synapses.

Question 16

What is myelination and what type of brain cells are responsible for it?

Answer 16

The coating of nerve fibers with myelin (a fatty substance that speeds up signal transmission); glial cells are responsible.

Question 17

Name two methods used to measure brain functioning in infants and

Answer 17

EEG/ERPs and NIRS are both non-invasive brain imaging techniques that offer valuable insights into brain activity. EEG/ERPs (Electroencephalography/Event-Related Potentials) measure electrical activity, while NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) measures changes in blood oxygenation, reflecting metabolic activity.

Question 18

What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?

Answer 18

Complex thought, planning, and decision-making.

Question 19

What is brain plasticity and why is it high in the first few years of life?

Answer 19

The brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt; it’s high because many areas are not yet committed to specific functions.

Question 20

What is the difference between experience-expectant and experience-dependent brain growth?

Answer 20

Experience-expectant relies on ordinary experiences; experience-dependent relies on specific learning experiences.

Question 21

How do infants’ sleep patterns typically change over the first two years?

Answer 21

Periods of sleep become fewer but longer, increasingly conforming to a night-day schedule.

Question 22

What do habituation and recovery reveal about infant learning and memory?

Answer 22

They show that babies are attracted to novelty and can remember familiar stimuli.

Question 23

What are two important environmental factors that influence motor development in the first two years?

Answer 23

Movement opportunities and a stimulating environment.

Question 24

Describe the typical progression of grasping skills in the first year.

Answer 24

From a clumsy ulnar grasp to a more refined pincer grasp.

Question 25

What is intermodal perception?

Answer 25

Combining information across different sensory modalities.

Question 26

According to differentiation theory, how does perceptual development occur?

Answer 26

By detecting invariant features in a constantly changing perceptual world, with acting on the world playing a major role.

Question 27

According to Erikson, what is the key psychosocial conflict in infancy?

Answer 27

Basic trust versus mistrust.

Question 28

What type of caregiving fosters basic trust in infants?

Answer 28

Warm, responsive caregiving.

Question 29

What is the psychosocial conflict of toddlerhood according to Erikson?

Answer 29

Autonomy versus shame and doubt.

Question 30

How do supportive parents foster autonomy in toddlers?

Answer 30

By providing appropriate guidance and reasonable choices.

Question 31

What is social referencing and when does it typically begin?

Answer 31

Looking to caregivers for emotional cues; around 8-10 months.

Question 32

What are self-conscious emotions and when do they emerge?

Answer 32

Guilt, shame, embarrassment, envy, and pride; during toddlerhood.

Question 33

According to ethological theory, why do infants form attachments?

Answer 33

It's an evolved response that promotes survival.

Question 34

What behaviors indicate the presence of a true attachment bond (around 6-8 months)?

Answer 34

Separation anxiety and using the caregiver as a secure base.

Question 35

Name the four attachment patterns identified in the Strange Situation.

Answer 35

Secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and disorganized/disoriented.

Question 36

What indicates the emergence of explicit self-awareness in toddlers (around the middle of the second year)?

Answer 36

Awareness of one's own physical features.

Question 37

What is self-recognition and when does it typically develop?

Answer 37

Identifying oneself in photos and by name; around age 2.

Question 38

What are self-conscious emotions and when do they emerge?

Answer 38

Guilt, shame, embarrassment, envy, and pride; during toddlerhood.

Question 39

How do emotionally sympathetic caregivers who set limits influence toddlers' emotional development?

Answer 39

Toddlers develop more effective anger-regulation strategies in the preschool years.

Question 40

WHat's the scientifc name for "liquid gold" and what is it for?

Answer 40

Colostrum is the first form of breastmilk that is released by the mammary glands after giving birth. It's nutrient-dense and high in antibodies and antioxidants to build a newborn baby's immune system. It changes to breast milk within two to four days after your baby is born

Question 41

What is the general progression of language development in infancy, from receptive to expressive skills?

Answer 41

It moves from understanding voices and expressions to vocalizing and using gestures, then to producing words.

Question 42

When do most babies typically utter their first words?

Answer 42

Around 12 months (the end of their first year).

Question 43

Name the three temperament patterns identified in the New York Longitudinal Study and describe them

Answer 43

In child development, these terms describe broad temperamental differences: an easy child adapts readily to new situations, a difficult child struggles with change and has intense reactions, and a slow-to-warm-up child needs more time to adjust to new situations.

Question 44

What is the mirror rouge test and who created it?

Answer 44

Gordon Gallup Jr created the method. A method used to assess an individual's ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. It involves covertly placing a dot of rouge (makeup) on a child's face and then observing their reaction when they look in a mirror. If the child touches or tries to remove the rouge from their own face, it suggests they recognize themselves in the mirror.

Question 45

Differentiate between receptive language and expressive language.

Answer 45

Receptive language refers to how your child understands language. Expressive language refers to how your child uses words to express himself/herself.

Question 46

True or false: Newborns are born without an immune system

Answer 46

True

Question 47

What is the sequence of motor development in Infancy-Toddlerhood) ?

Answer 47

Flat on back -> lift up neck -> sit up> reach for things -> crawl -> stand up -> point

Question 48

True or false: Hearing, taste and smell are developed from in the womb

Answer 48

True