Ch. 5 - Body and Mind Flashcards
growth patterns in early childhood
- 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
How does appetite change between ages 2 and 6 and what are some possible repercussions of not keeping that in mind?
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
food allergies
increased in recent years; about 8% of children have a food allergy, usually to a common, healthy food
oral health
teeth are affected by diet and illness; poor oral health in early childhood is detrimental to permanent tooth development
brain development - size
by age 2, child brain weighs 75% of adult brain
by age 6, child brain weighs 90% of adult brain
notable benefits of maturation of prefrontal cortex from ages 2-6
- sleep becomes more regular
- emotions become more nuanced and responsive
- temper tantrums decrease or subside
- uncontrollable laughter/tears less common
corpus callosum
part of the brain that grows and myelinates rapidly in early childhood; band of nerve fibers connecting L and R hemispheres; facilitates communication
lateralization
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
myelin
fatty coating on axons that speeds signals between neurons
primary reason for faster thinking
new and extensive myelination
impulsiveness
before maturation of the prefrontal cortex, young children jump from task to task, unable to stay quiet
perseveration
phenomenon where some kids stick to one thought/action and are unable to quit.
limbic system
parts of brain that are crucial in expression and regulation of emotions, including (1) amygdala, (2) hippocampus, (3) hypothalamus
amygdala
tiny brain structure that registers emotions, esp fear/anxiety
hippocampus
brain structure central processor of memory (esp locations)
hypothalamus
brain area responsible to the amygdala and hippocampus to produce hormones that activate other parts of the brain and body
preoperational thought
before logical operations/reasoning
child’s verbal ability permits symbolic thinking; language frees children from limits of sensorimotor experience
obstacles to logic
centration egocentrism focus on appearance static reasoning irreversibility
centration
characteristics of preoperational thought whereby young child focuses/centres on one idea, excluding all others
egocentrism
young children’s tendency to think about the world entirely from their own personal perspectives
focus on appearance
characteristic of preoperational thought where young child ignores all attributes that aren’t apparent
static reasoning
characteristic of preoperational thought where young child thinks nothing changes; whatever is now always has been and will be
irreversibility
characteristic of preoperational thought where young child thinks nothing can be undone
conservation
principle stating that the amount of a substance is conserved when its appearance changes
What do mentors do for children?
- present challenges
- provide guidance as knowledgeable sources
- offer assistance without taking over
- add crucial information
- encourage motivation
zone of proximal development (ZPD)
skills that a person can exercise only with assistance
scaffolding
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
overimitation
tendency of children to copy an action that isn’t a relevant part of the behaviour to be learned; common among 2-6 yo
theory theory
children develop theories about everything they see and hear
theory of mind
person’s theory of what others may be thinking; emergent ability beginning at about 4 yo
child’s ability to develop theories correlates with…
maturity of the prefrontal cortex and with advances in executive processing
what makes early childhood ideal a sensitive period to master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation?
brain maturation, myelination, scaffolding, and especially social interaction
fast-mapping
speedy and sometimes imprecise way in which children learn new words by tentatively placing them in mental categories according to their perceived meaning.
logical extension
occurs when children use a word to describe other objects in the same category
grammar
structures, techniques, and rules that communicate meaning
overregularization
application of rules of grammar even when exceptions occur
pragmatic
practical use of language, adjusting communication to audience and context. difficult to learn.
language shifts
becoming more fluent in the school language than in the home language
balanced bilingual
being fluent in two languages; not favouring one or the other
5 effective strategies for children of all income levels, languages, and ethnicities:
- code-focused teaching
- book reading
- parent education
- language enhancement
- preschool programs
child-centered developmental programs
- 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)
Montessori schools
emphasize individual pride and accomplishment, presenting literacy-related tasks.
Reggio Emilia approach
encourages each child’s creativity in a carefully designed setting.
Teacher-directed programs
- 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
project head start
most widespread early childhood education program in the US funded by fed govt in 1965.
3 longitudinal research projects on low SES families found:
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
