Biological and Environmental factors

Question 1

Nature versus Nurture

Answer 1

Nature - the idea that children inherit skills, abilities and behaviours.

Nurture - that idea that children develop skills, abilities and behaviours from the environment the child is based in.

Behaviourist theories - nurture
Nativist theories - nature

Question 2

Medical factors

Answer 2

Long term medical condition have the potential to affect children’s overall develop met. There are several reasons for this:

1) some illnesses may reduce the child’s energy level and so affect their capacity to exercise and develop their coordination and muscles.
2) some long-term medical conditions required time away from nursery or school settings. Not having the opportunities.
3) children with disabilities our medical conditions may affect specific developmental areas, having an impact on other areas.

Question 3

Disability

Answer 3

Child with specific difficulties may be disadvantaged in other areas of development.

Question 4

Genetic disorders

Answer 4

Faulty genes that have been inherited.
This may cause children to have the ability to engage in as much physical activity as their peers - impact on development.
Sometimes causes disabilities.

Question 5

Prenatal factors:

Answer 5

Lifestyle choices:
> poor diet - mother should eat a balanced diet through pregnancy. It is important for mothers to take folic acid supplements and eat plenty of green veggies - prevents spins bifida.

> smoking - the amount of oxygen is reduced. Could cause long-term effects on the health of children. May be born preterm and lighter in weight.

> Alcohol - brain damage - fetal alcohol syndrome- learning and behavioural difficulties.

> Drugs - because the chemicals in drugs can interfere with the healthy development of a unborn baby.

> Stress - may cause a impact on cognitive and motor development.

> infection - infections such as rubella (German measles), chickenpox and influenza, has an impact on the unborn baby’s development - miscarriage.

Question 6

Antenatal checks

Answer 6

Check the baby’s development and the mother’s health will be checked.

This is important because pregnancy can cause problems for women’s health eg. Diabetes and HBC.

Gain support, information and advice.

Question 7

Birth

Answer 7

A baby may not breathe straight away or may be injured during birth.

Lack of oxygen - hypoxia or oxygen starvation - anoxia can affect brain function and may result in learning difficulties.

Question 8

Illness, accident and injuries

Answer 8

Children may miss out on play and learning.

This may result in several absences. May result in learning difficulties.

Question 9

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 9

Conductive hearing loss, also known as glue ear. Effects children’s speech, social development and their ability to learn.

Question 10

Lifestyle

Answer 10

This means that some children grow up in well-heated and safe homes with parents who have sufficient income to meet their basic needs.
Then the opposite

Question 11

Exclusion

Answer 11

How close the family live to services, transportation and prices.

Question 12

Poverty

Answer 12

Low incomes, struggling for food, difficult to meet basic needs. 
Poverty affects:
> stress levels 
> education
> play and leisure opportunities 
> diet
> housing
> education

Question 13

Social systems

Answer 13

There are societal systems in place that can impact on children’s development.