a1 - physical development across the lifestages

Question 1

birth and infancy, age and features

Answer 1

0-2 years, reach about half adult height, at one year can walk and at two years can run.

Question 2

early childhood, age and features

Answer 2

3-8 years, growing at steady pace, developing strength and coordination

Question 3

adolescence, age and features

Answer 3

9-18 years, growth spurts, develop sexual characteristics during puberty

Question 4

early adulthood, age and features

Answer 4

19-45 years, reach the peak of physical fitness

Question 5

middle adulthood, age and features

Answer 5

46-65 years, some loss of strength and stamina, women go through menopause

Question 6

later adulthood, age and features

Answer 6

65 years +, gradual loss of mobility, loss of height up to a few cm

Question 7

growth vs development

Answer 7

growth - an increase in some measured quantity, such as height or weight
development - complex changes including an increase in skills, abilities and capabilities

Question 8

benefits of growth measurements

Answer 8

• monitoring a child’s health and development
• identifying issues such as being underweight or growing too slowly
• plotted on a chart to ensure that an infant is meeting milestones

Question 9

what are milestones?

Answer 9

abilities reached by most children by a certain age - for example walking, talking, expressing emotions, recognising familiar sounds etc.

Question 10

centile lines

Answer 10

lines on a graph to show average measurements of height, weight and head circumference. lines represent the values of measurements, taking into account age and sex. all info is recorded in personal child health records (red book)

Question 11

principles of growth

Answer 11

• as height increases, so does weight, if not could indicate malnutrition
• the rate of growth is not steady, growth spurts during puberty etc.
• newborn babies grow rapidly, and then again during puberty
  -infants will grow 8cm and gain 2kg between 2-3 years old
• reach half of adult height by 2 years old

Question 12

4 ways that development happens

Answer 12

1. from head to toe - can control head first, then body (can sit), then legs and feet (can crawl and walk)
2. from the inside to the outside - can control movements in body first then arms and legs, then finally the small muscles in their fingers
3. in the same sequence but at different rates
4. holistically - areas of development are dependent on and influence each other

Question 13

4 main areas of skills acquisition

Answer 13

1. physical - gross and fine motor skills
2. social development
3. emotional development
4. intellectual development and language skills

Question 14

development of gross motor skills

Answer 14

• movements that involve using the large muscles of the body
• allow children to control these movements in the legs, arms and torso
• begin to develop as soon as the baby is born
• essential for physical play (running, playing tag etc) as well as everyday tasks (jumping, walking upstairs etc)

Question 15

development of fine motor skills

Answer 15

• actions that require the use of smaller muscles in the hands, fingers and toes
• used to pick things up, wriggle toes, hold small toys, get dressed etc.

Question 16

infancy (0-2 years) development

Answer 16

• newborn babies can’t hold up their heads, roll over, sit up or move objects deliberately
• developing motor skills
• by the age of 2, infants become more independent as they develop gross and fine motor skills
• newborns can tuck thumbs into hands, grasping reflexes
• at 1 month can lift chin
• at 6 months can move items from hand to hand, can sit up for short periods of time
• at 10 months can use finger and thumb to hold an object, learn to cruise
• at 2 years can draw lines, turn pages, propel a sit on toy

Question 17

early childhood (3-8 years) development of gross motor skills

Answer 17

• by the age of 3, can use pedals, run, balance on one foot
• by the age of 4, can kick and throw large balls
• by the age of 5, can hop using each foot
• by the age of 6/7, can skip and ride a bike
• by the age of 8, will have good strength and coordination for sports and activities

Question 18

early childhood (3-8 years) development of fine motor skills

Answer 18

• by the age of 3, can use a pencil to copy letters or build a tower with cubes
• by the age of 5, can dress and undress, tie shoelaces
• by the age of 8, have good control of small muscles and draw detailed pictures

Question 19

adolescence (9-18 years) development of sexual characteristics in females

Answer 19

primary (birth + during puberty) - uterus enlarged and vagina lengthens, ovaries begin to release eggs, menstrual cycle commences
secondary (develop during puberty) - breasts develop and the areola (area around nipple) swells and darkens, hair grows in armpits and pubic area, redistribution of body fat so hips widen

Question 20

adolescence (9-18 years) development of sexual characteristics in males

Answer 20

primary (at birth and during puberty) - enlargement of penis and testes, spontaneous erections, testicles begin to produce sperm, beginning of ejaculation
secondary (develop during puberty) - changes in larynx cause voice to deepen, hair grows in armpits and pubic area and facial area, redistribution of muscle tissue and fat

Question 21

puberty in girls vs in boys

Answer 21

girls - often starts between ages of 11-13, but varies.
boys - generally start puberty later, between 13-15 years old

Question 22

what is puberty?

Answer 22

a development stage that prepares the body for sexual reproduction, triggered by the action of hormones.

Question 23

roles of hormones in sexual maturity

Answer 23

pituitary gland - release of sex hormones in both genders, this controls the onset and rate of puberty, and physical changes.mood swings caused by hormone levels changing.
females - oestrogen and progesterone. ovaries produce these, responsible for menstruation and ovulation.
males - testes produce testosterone. stimulates sperm production, responsible for development of secondary sexual characteristics such as deeper pitch and tone of voice.

Question 24

early adulthood (19-45 years)

Answer 24

• physical strength peaks: reaction time and manual dexterity are at peak, exercise and diet helps to maintain physical fitness and skills
• full height is reached
• development of prefrontal cortex is complete
• pregnancy and lactation: physical and emotional changes to prepare for parenthood, mood swings, increase in progesterone for pregnancy, increase in oestrogen is responsible for sickness during pregnancy, nipples and areolas darken, breasts prepare to produce milk
• perimenopause: ovaries make less progesterone, menopause is when ovaries stop producing eggs, perimenopause lasts around 4 years, physical and emotional symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, hot flushes, loss of libido etc.

Question 25

middle adulthood (46-65 years)

Answer 25

• menopause: risk of miscarriage and complications rises with age, ending of menstruation, increase in production of gonadotropins, reduction in sex hormones, can lead to mood changes, depression and anxiety, sadness about not being able to have children, low self-esteem
• effects of the ageing process: gain of weight, change in body shape, loss of muscle tone, greying and thinning of hair

Question 26

later adulthood (65+ years)

Answer 26

• deterioration of health: changes in body systems and organs, heart is at higher risk of disease, losing height, changes in posture, loss of strength and muscle, reduction in stamina, small changes to the brain, visual and hearing problems, higher risk of accidents and falls, mobility and dexterity declines
• deterioration of intellectual abilities: diseases such as alzheimers and parkinson’s become more common, loss of nerve cells and nerve ability in the brain, problems with recall, slower reaction times, cognitive impairment

Question 27

encouraging language development

Answer 27

infants (0-2) - talk to them as much as possible using simple words, nursery rhymes, read stories, blowing bubbles to develop muscle use, exaggerated speech (baby talk)

young children (3-8) - continue to talk to them and explain meanings of more complex words, encouraging conversations with family and friends, read books to them, tv shows that use complex and simple language, flashcards, circle time, reading in groups, word games

adolescence (9-18) - literacy and english lessons at school, encourage them to read books, watch educational shows, listening to music with lyrics