Ch. 5 - Body and Mind

Question 1

growth patterns in early childhood

Answer 1

• weight and height increase but the relationships between the two change
• low avg BMI
• children become slimmer as lower body lengthens
• centre of gravity shifts from breastbone to belly button

Question 2

How does appetite change between ages 2 and 6 and what are some possible repercussions of not keeping that in mind?

Answer 2

appetite decreases.
can lead to overfeeding (low-income family cultures guarding against undernutrition and not having access to healthier food), causing illnesses related to obesity

Question 3

food allergies

Answer 3

increased in recent years; about 8% of children have a food allergy, usually to a common, healthy food

Question 4

oral health

Answer 4

teeth are affected by diet and illness; poor oral health in early childhood is detrimental to permanent tooth development

Question 5

brain development - size

Answer 5

by age 2, child brain weighs 75% of adult brain

by age 6, child brain weighs 90% of adult brain

Question 6

notable benefits of maturation of prefrontal cortex from ages 2-6

Answer 6

• sleep becomes more regular
• emotions become more nuanced and responsive
• temper tantrums decrease or subside
• uncontrollable laughter/tears less common

Question 7

corpus callosum

Answer 7

part of the brain that grows and myelinates rapidly in early childhood; band of nerve fibers connecting L and R hemispheres; facilitates communication

Question 8

lateralization

Answer 8

refers to specialization in certain functions by each hemisphere, with one side dominant for each activity

Note: L/R distinction is exaggerated, as no one is exclusively L or R brained

Question 9

myelin

Answer 9

fatty coating on axons that speeds signals between neurons

Question 10

primary reason for faster thinking

Answer 10

new and extensive myelination

Question 11

impulsiveness

Answer 11

before maturation of the prefrontal cortex, young children jump from task to task, unable to stay quiet

Question 12

perseveration

Answer 12

phenomenon where some kids stick to one thought/action and are unable to quit.

Question 13

limbic system

Answer 13

parts of brain that are crucial in expression and regulation of emotions, including (1) amygdala, (2) hippocampus, (3) hypothalamus

Question 14

amygdala

Answer 14

tiny brain structure that registers emotions, esp fear/anxiety

Question 15

hippocampus

Answer 15

brain structure central processor of memory (esp locations)

Question 16

hypothalamus

Answer 16

brain area responsible to the amygdala and hippocampus to produce hormones that activate other parts of the brain and body

Question 17

preoperational thought

Answer 17

before logical operations/reasoning

child’s verbal ability permits symbolic thinking; language frees children from limits of sensorimotor experience

Question 18

obstacles to logic

Answer 18

centration
egocentrism
focus on appearance
static reasoning
irreversibility

Question 19

centration

Answer 19

characteristics of preoperational thought whereby young child focuses/centres on one idea, excluding all others

Question 20

egocentrism

Answer 20

young children’s tendency to think about the world entirely from their own personal perspectives

Question 21

focus on appearance

Answer 21

characteristic of preoperational thought where young child ignores all attributes that aren’t apparent

Question 22

static reasoning

Answer 22

characteristic of preoperational thought where young child thinks nothing changes; whatever is now always has been and will be

Question 23

irreversibility

Answer 23

characteristic of preoperational thought where young child thinks nothing can be undone

Question 24

conservation

Answer 24

principle stating that the amount of a substance is conserved when its appearance changes

Question 25

What do mentors do for children?

Answer 25

• present challenges
• provide guidance as knowledgeable sources
• offer assistance without taking over
• add crucial information
• encourage motivation

Question 26

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Answer 26

skills that a person can exercise only with assistance

Question 27

scaffolding

Answer 27

temporary support tailored to a learner’s needs and abilities and aimed at helping the learner master the next task in a given learning process

Question 28

overimitation

Answer 28

tendency of children to copy an action that isn’t a relevant part of the behaviour to be learned; common among 2-6 yo

Question 29

theory theory

Answer 29

children develop theories about everything they see and hear

Question 30

theory of mind

Answer 30

person’s theory of what others may be thinking; emergent ability beginning at about 4 yo

Question 31

child’s ability to develop theories correlates with…

Answer 31

maturity of the prefrontal cortex and with advances in executive processing

Question 32

what makes early childhood ideal a sensitive period to master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation?

Answer 32

brain maturation, myelination, scaffolding, and especially social interaction

Question 33

fast-mapping

Answer 33

speedy and sometimes imprecise way in which children learn new words by tentatively placing them in mental categories according to their perceived meaning.

Question 34

logical extension

Answer 34

occurs when children use a word to describe other objects in the same category

Question 35

grammar

Answer 35

structures, techniques, and rules that communicate meaning

Question 36

overregularization

Answer 36

application of rules of grammar even when exceptions occur

Question 37

pragmatic

Answer 37

practical use of language, adjusting communication to audience and context. difficult to learn.

Question 38

language shifts

Answer 38

becoming more fluent in the school language than in the home language

Question 39

balanced bilingual

Answer 39

being fluent in two languages; not favouring one or the other

Question 40

5 effective strategies for children of all income levels, languages, and ethnicities:

Answer 40

1. code-focused teaching
2. book reading
3. parent education
4. language enhancement
5. preschool programs

Question 41

child-centered developmental programs

Answer 41

• emphasize children’s natural inclination to learn through play
• encourage self-paced exploration and artistic expression
• show influence of Vygotsky (children learn through play w other children under adult guidance)

Question 42

Montessori schools

Answer 42

emphasize individual pride and accomplishment, presenting literacy-related tasks.

Question 43

Reggio Emilia approach

Answer 43

encourages each child’s creativity in a carefully designed setting.

Question 44

Teacher-directed programs

Answer 44

• stress academic subjects taught by a teacher to an entire class
• help children learn letters, numbers, shapes, and colours, as well as how to sit quietly and listen
• clear distinction between work and play
• much less expensive due to higher child:adult ratio

Question 45

project head start

Answer 45

most widespread early childhood education program in the US funded by fed govt in 1965.

Question 46

3 longitudinal research projects on low SES families found:

Answer 46

providing direct cognitive training,. with specific instruction in various school-readiness skills, was useful:

• reduced need for later developmental services
• increased adult employment
• more tax revenues
• reduced crime