early childhood Flashcards
What is the rate of growth in height in early childhood?
2.5”/yr
What is the rate of weight gain in early childhood?
5-7 lbs/yr
What is the age range of early childhood?
2-5 yrs
What is the pattern of growth in early childhood?
slim down and lengthen
boys develop more muscle
girls develop more fatty tissue
What are the most important contributors to height differences between individuals?
ethnic origin, nutrition, and environment
Describe how the brain develops in early childhood.
top portion faster than the lower portion
growth primarily in frontal lobes
inc in number and size of nerve endings within and between areas of the brain
Experience MYELINATION
How does the size of the brain in a 5 yr old compare with an adult’s brain?
almost the same size
What part of the body grows the fastest in early childhood?
brain and head
How do gross motor skills develop in early childhood?
bones harden very active fidgety delight and pride in newly acquired skills adventurous wide variety of enjoyed activities
How do fine motor skills develop in early childhood?
at 3 still clumsy with finger grasp and experience frustration with things like blocks
improves every year
develop HANDEDNESS
- dominance of right or left hemispheres over the other
- some remain ambidextrous in early childhood
How many calories are needed in early childhood?
1700
What developments improve their eating ability?
deciduous teeth are in
What is important to consider regarding the diet of the child?
diet can determine allergies
When does toileting usually begin and what is it dependent on?
begins in the first few years of early childhood
dependent on:
control of muscles involved
cognitive maturity
helps to have rewards
What are the two sub-stages in Piaget’s stage of preoperational thought.
1) SYMBOLIC FUNCTION stage
2) INTUITIVE THOUGHT stage
Describe the symbolic function sub-stage of Piaget’s stage of preoperational thought
2-4 yrs
- can imagine objects
- can try to draw; inventive, but not realistic
- ANIMISM: obj are alive and have thoughts
- EGOCENTRISM
Describe the intuitive thought sub-stage of Piaget’s stage of preoperational thought
4-7 yrs
- improved reasoning
- curiosity; ask why
- know things intuitively, but unsure how they know
- CENTRATION: focus on one thing excluding all else
- inability to mentally reverse actions
Explain Vygotsky’s theory of development in early childhood.
ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT:
refers to the range of tasks too difficult for the child to master alone, but can be learned with guidance and assistance of an adult or more skilled child
- lower end of ZPD is the area of child’s problem solving
- upper ZPD will need assistance
BASICS:
- dependent on social influences
- learn faster with assistance
- language and thought develop independently then merge
- language must develop externally prior to internally
Involves SCAFFOLDING: changing the lvl of support to adjust to the learners performance lvl
How is information processed in early childhood?
they have short attention spans
have short term memory
How is language developed in early childhood?
begin with telegraphic speech
expands from yes/no questions -> sentence fragments -> simple sentences
begin to develop grammar
by 6 yrs old vocab is about 14,000
What are developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood education?
active, hands on methods like games and dramatization
What phase of Erikson’s development do children go through at this stage. How is parenting crucial for this?
3-5 yrs
INITIATIVE vs GUILT
(development of self-understanding)
parenting is crucial:
- need approval and opportunities to try new things
- answer questions honestly and respectfully
- allow fantasy play
Describe Piaget’s view on moral development
1) HETERONOMOUS morality (4-7 yrs)
- unchangeable rules and imminent justics
2) AUTONOMOUS morality (10+)
- realize rules/laws are created by people and there are consequences
- discover punishment is socially mediated (undiscovered wrongs may not be punished)
What are the 6 types of play under Parten’s theory of play?
1) unoccupied: standing without purpose
2) solitary: alone
3) onlooker: watching others play
4) parallel: separate, but similar
5) associative: focus on social interaction
6) cooperative: work together, organized
