C8 Developmental transitions AOS1 Flashcards
Developmental milestone
A task, undertaking or event that is expected to be achieved in order to successfully progress to a further level of development.
Prenatal
Begins at fertilisation and ends with the birth of a baby. It is the most rapid period of growth during the lifespan and lasts 40 weeks. Development occurs from proximal to distal and involved 3 stages (germinal, embryonic, and foetal).
Example (s) of prenatal development
Growth and development of all major organs
Infancy
Begins at birth and ends at 18 months old. Infancy results in the child doubling in size by their first birthday and adapting its body functions to the external environment.
Example (s) of infant development
Developing the grasping reflex, learning to, crawl, walk, and communicate by forming noises and then words.
Toddlerhood
Begins when an infant turns 18 months and ends at 3 years of age. This stage is characterized by very evident physical development.
Example (s) of toddlerhood development
Social interactions begin through the use of words and imitation of gestures and learning through play-imagination develops.
Childhood
Begins when an individual turns three and concludes at 12 years of age and it is when physical growth slows down at a steady rate while children develop their motor skills.
Example (s) of childhood development
Increased vocabulary, more sophisticated use of language and expression, and learning basic social, emotional, and physical skills.
Youth
Begins at 12 and ends at 18 years of age and marks the achievement of complete physical, and sexual maturation, and detachment from parents.
Example (s) of youth development
Academic and personal success increases self-concept and self-esteem, development of abstract thinking and learning to consider the thoughts and opinions of others.
Early adulthood
Begins when a person turns 18 and ends when they turn 39 years old. Early adulthood is marked by the peak of physical development, after which a decline in physical abilities may occur.
Example (s) of early adulthood development
The formation of permanent intimate relationships, the establishment of a new family, and increased self-esteem from career success.
Middle adulthood
Begins when an individual is turning 40 and ends when they reach 64 and is a stage characterised by more pronounced aging, the decline in muscle strength and sensory organs.
Example (s) of middle adulthood development
Greying of hair and increase in wrinkles, the commencement of menopause in women and a reduction in sperm count in men.
Late adulthood
Beginning at 65 and ending with death the final stage of the lifespan is characterised by the decline in the body’s ability to function efficiently.
Example (s) of late adulthood development
The decrease in muscle tone leads to mobility issues, digestion, and elimination of waste. The ability to absorb calcium decreases impacted self-esteem and self-concept due to a decline in quality of health.
Principle 1
Development occurs in an orderly and predictable way
The order in which we develop specific milestones follows a predictable pattern. Development occurs in the order from general to specific and from simple to complex. The cephalocaudal and proximodistal laws of development predict the orderly and predictable pattern of development.
Principle 2
Development is continual
Development occurs from conception all the way up to a human’s death therefore development requires change because humans continue to change across the lifespan, and development continues to occur. The body is constantly making new cells and so development is constantly occurring.
Principle 3
There are individual variations in the rate and timing of development
Development is orderly and predictable, however, no two people achieve developmental milestones at the exact same point in their lifespan.
Principle 4
Development requires change
Development is linked to change so if an individual is not changing they are not developing. Developmental change can be visible, physical development, and learning changes (e.g. intellectual, emotional, and social development).
Principle 5
Early development is essential for later development
One stage of development lays the foundation for the next stage of development therefore development in the early years of life forms the building blocks for further development (e.g. a child needs to be able to hold a pencil before they can write).
Principle 6
Development involves maturation and learning
Maturation and learning is the journey an individual takes to reach their full genetic potential. Maturation refers to a sequential change in biological growth and development (i.e. a programmed pattern) and learning is influenced by the experiences we are exposed to and the acquisition of behaviours and skills through interaction with the environment.
Human lifespan
A series of orderly and predictable stages that entails unique developmental milestones.