Child Growth and Development

Question 1

How is childhood staged?

Answer 1

0-1 year = baby

0-2 years = infant

2-10 years = childhood

11- 13 years= early adolescence

14- 17 = middle adolescence

18-21 years = late adolescence

Question 2

What are primitive reflexes?

Answer 2

Involuntary reflexes that can be elicited from the neonate.

Examples include:

• Rooting
• Grasp
• Moro asymmetrical tone and neck reflex (ATNR)

Question 3

How does a baby’s brain increase in weight from birth to 1 year of age?

What causes the increase in weight?

Answer 3

400g at birth →1kg at 1 year

Increase in weight occurs through myelination and synaptogenesis

Question 4

Which region of the brain develops almost completely postnatally?

Answer 4

Orbitofrontal region

Question 5

What are experience-expectant mechanisms?

Answer 5

Environmental input experienced by all species that play a necessary part in the development and organisation of the nervous system.

Question 6

What are experience-dependent mechanisms?

Answer 6

Refers to the way in which unique experiences of each individual baby produce distinctive wiring of their brain.

Enables the individual child to adapt to specific features of the individual environment in which they inhabit.

Dependent on the dyad

Question 7

When do the fontanelles close?

Answer 7

Anterior fontanelle: 18 months

Posterior fontanelle: 2-3 months

Question 8

Label the parts of the neonatal skull on the diagram

Answer 8

Question 9

What is synaptogenesis dependent on?

Answer 9

Experience-dependent mechanisms

Question 10

What is attachment?

Answer 10

Bio-behavioural mechanism activated by anxiety with the aim of reducing stress and restoring security.

Question 11

At what age does the infant experience their first ‘true’ emotional reaction based on subjective experience?

Answer 11

3 months

Question 12

What is emotional regulation?

Answer 12

The process by which positive and negative emotions are kept within bounds, so they are not registered as overwhelming.

Question 13

At what age do infants develop the ability to recognise themselves?

Answer 13

18 months

Question 14

Define growth

Answer 14

Dynamic process in which increasing cell size and number and various tissues result in a physical increase in the size of the body as a whole

Question 15

What are the cephalocaudal and centrifugal principles

Answer 15

Cephalocaudal: refers to the general pattern of physical and functional development followed whereby development follows a head to toe progression

Centrifugal: refers to the growth from proximal to distal directions

Question 16

What is the healthy child programme?

Answer 16

The universal preventative programme that begins in pregnancy and continues through childhood.

Evidence based programme of growth and developmental reviews, screening, immunisations, health promotion and parenting support.

Question 17

What are the core purposes of health and development reviews of the healthy child programme?

Answer 17

• Assess growth and development
• Detect abnormalities (for early intervention)
• Assess family strengths, needs and risks
• Give parents opportunities to discuss their concerns and aspirations.

Question 18

What is the national child measurement programme?

Answer 18

Measures height and weight of children beginning 4-5 years of age

Provides data for the child excess weight indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Question 19

What are the developmental demains?

Answer 19

Gross motor: posture and large movements

Fine motor: vision and fine movements

Hearing and speech

Social behaviour and play

Question 20

Which 3 domains must be examined to gain a developmental history if a developmental delay is identified?

Answer 20

Perinatal

Family

Environmental

Question 21

Who is responsible for regulating a baby’s experience-dependent brain growth?

Answer 21

Parents