Module 4 Flashcards
(271 cards)
Stages of Early Development
Prenatal Period Infancy - Birth to 15 months Toddler Period - 15 months to 2 ½ years Preschool Period - 2 ½ to 6 years The Middle Years - 6 to 12 years
Prenatal Period
The Germinal Period - First 2 weeks
Period of the Embryo - 3 to 7 weeks
Period of the Fetus - 8 weeks to birth
- One-celled zygote divides into
- 2 separate cells»_space; 4»_space; 8»_space; 16»_space; multicelled organism
- Most rapid growth of the entire life span
- Implantation one week after conception
The Germinal Period (First 2 weeks)
- Growth is rapid and orderly
- 2 directions of growth
1. Cephalo-caudal : from the head downward
2. Proximo-distal : from the center (spine) toward the extremities
Period of the Embryo (3 to 7 weeks)
Developmental Damage
- Damage at the fetal stage usually has a more global impact than damage after birth
- Rapidly growing organs are the most vulnerable
- Boys are more vulnerable
Behavior
- Fetal movements detected by 16 – 20 weeks
- Bright light flashed on the abdominal wall at 20 weeks causes changes in fetal heart rate and position
Behavior: Reflexes
Reflexes are present:
Grasp reflex appears at 17 weeks
Moro (startle) reflex at 25 weeks
Sucking reflex at 28 weeks
Maternal Stress
- High levels of stress hormones in the fetal bloodstream (Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and adrenocorticotropic hormone)
- Act directly on the fetal neuronal network to increase BP, HR and activity level
Mothers with high levels of __ are more likely to have babies who are hyperactive, irritable, of low birth weight and who have problems feeding and sleeping
anxiety
Maternal depression
- risk factor for the socioeconomic and cognitive development of children
- Women of childbearing age are prone to depression
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Developmental problems - Less active, more agitated
INFANCY: Birth to 15 months
Developmental Landmarks
- Physical Development
- Language and Cognitive Development
- Emotional and Social Development
- Temperamental Differences
- Attachment
- Infant Care
Reflexes at Birth: 3 sets of reflexes critical for survival 1
- Helps the newborn maintain constant body temperature
* When infants are cold, they cry, shiver and tuck their legs close to their bodies
Reflexes at Birth: 3 sets of reflexes critical for survival 2
- Ensures adequate nourishment
- Sucking reflex
- Rooting reflex
- Swallowing
- Crying
Reflexes at Birth: 3 sets of reflexes critical for survival 3
- Maintains an adequate supply of oxygen
- Breathing reflex
- Hiccups, sneezes, spit-ups
Infancy: Size and Shape
- Size, shape and skills change daily
- Growth follows the same orderly sequence as prenatal growth:
- from the head downward and from the center outward
- Affected by the interaction of genes, diet, experience and the quality of care
Infancy: Vision
Near vision:
- In the first weeks of life, babies seem to focus reasonably well on objects between 7 to 10 inches away
Distance vision:
Newborn: 20/600
4 months: 20/150
Infancy: Development of Motor Abilities
- Follow the cephalo-caudal and proximo-distal sequences
- The upper part of the body is controlled before the lower part is
- The arms are controlled before the hands and fingers are
- By the end of infancy, infants have transformed reflexes into voluntary actions
Infancy: Language and Cognitive Development
- Birth – noises
- 8 weeks – babbling
- Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development: Sensorimotor
- Critical achievements:
Object permanence
Symbolization
Infancy: Dreams
- Reality and fantasy are not yet fully differentiated
- Dreams may be experienced as if they were, or could be, true
Infancy: Emotional and Social Development
Imitative behaviors by the age of 3 weeks
Infancy: Smiling response occurs in 2 phases
- Endogenous smiling
- Occurs spontaneously within the first 2 months
- Unrelated to external stimulation - Exogenous smiling
- Stimulated from the outside
- Occurs by the 16th week
AGE and EMOTIONAL CAPACITY AND EXPRESSION
Birth: Pleasure, surprise, disgust, distress 1 ½ - 2 mos: Joy 3 – 4 mos: Anger 8 – 9 mos: Sadness, fear 1 – 1 ½ yrs: Tender affection
Infancy: Developmental Task
Learning basic trust in himself and in his world or a basic distrust / mistrust
Stella Chess and Alexander Thomas
Temperamental Differences
- Inborn differences among infants
- 9 behavioral dimensions