Early Physical Development

Question 1

When is physical development most rapid?

Answer 1

During first 2 years of life

Question 2

What kinds of bxs are learned in the 1st year of life?

Answer 2

Grasp, sit, crawl, stand, climb, & walk w/assistance

Question 3

What kinds of bxs are learned by age 2?

Answer 3

Run, climb stairs, jump, throw a ball, scribble

Question 4

What are the 4 major infant reflexes?

Answer 4

(1) Palmar grasp reflex, (2) Babinski reflex, (3) Moro or Startle reflex, and (4) Stepping reflex

Question 5

What is a reflex?

Answer 5

Automatic physical response to specific kind of stimulation

Question 6

Palmar grasp reflex

Answer 6

Grasps a finger pressed in palm

Question 7

Babniski reflex

Answer 7

Extends big toe and spreads small toe when sole of foot is stroked

Question 8

Moro or Startle reflex

Answer 8

When someone is supporting infant’s body permits head to drop slightly or when loud, sudden sound, infant arches back, extends legs, and throws arms out as if grabbing for support

Question 9

Stepping reflex

Answer 9

When infant held in upright position and soles of feet touch ground, infant makes stepping motions

Question 10

When do reflexes disappear?

Answer 10

During first 6 months of life; experts think it’s d/t gradual increase in voluntary control as cortex gains influence over behavior and suppresses subcortical reflexive responses

Question 11

Early sensory skills

Answer 11

Newborns have a great deal of sensory ability at birth

Question 12

Vision of newborn

Answer 12

Very limited at birth (20/600) though within few days (or even minutes) after birth prefer facial images to non-facial forms; can discriminate mom’s face from strangers at 1 month; have color vision by 2-3 months; by 6 months, have some depth perception and visual acuity close to an adult

Question 13

Hearing of newborn

Answer 13

Fetus hears sounds in uterus in last few months of development and newborn’s hearing is only slightly less sensitive than an adult’s; w/in days after birth, prefer sound of mom’s voice and can distinguish between vowels “A” and “I”; Soon after birth exhibit sound or auditory localization (turn head toward sound) then this ability disappears between 2-4 months then reappears and becomes fully developed by about 12 months

Question 14

Taste of a newborn

Answer 14

Can distinguish between all 4 tastes at birth (bitter, sour, sweet, salty) and show preference for sweet

Question 15

Smell of newborn

Answer 15

Respond to unpleasant odors during first days after birth and discriminate between different odors by 2-7 days of age

Question 16

Brain development in infancy/childhood

Answer 16

Significant development, especially of cortex, following birth and continues until early adolescence

Question 17

Most neurons are already present at birth so what does continued development involve?

Answer 17

Growth of new dendrites which create new synapses and myelinization in which nerve fibers covered w/myelin that insulates neuron & increases speed of nerve impulses

Question 18

Describe the predetermined pattern of myelinization?

Answer 18

1st month of life = primary motor cortex which accounts for ability to perform certain voluntary movements by 1 month (raise head when lying on stomach); Next area is primary sensory area responsible for initial processing of sensory info

Question 19

When is most myelinization complete?

Answer 19

By end of second year of life though it continues at slower rate into early adolescence and may play role in cognitive changes that occur between ages of 5 and 7

Question 20

Child’s brain has reached about 60% of its adult weight by what age?

Answer 20

1 year old

Question 21

Early motor development

Answer 21

Study table of major milestones in fine and gross motor development and average age at which they occur

Question 22

How can early practice affect age at which certain motor milestones are achieved?

Answer 22

In cultures where training in walking occurs w/in few months after birth, children walk sooner; however, it appears that early training doesn’t have an impact on long-term outcomes for basic skills but may affect more complex motor skills

Question 23

McGraw example of motor training on fraternal twins with swimming and bike riding

Answer 23

Trained one twin and when he was proficient then trained twin brother; second twin caught up quickly; however, as adolescents and adults, first twin was generally more skilled and interested in activities than his brother

Question 24

6 family risk factors for child psychopathology

Answer 24

(1) Low SES
(2) Overcrowding or large family size
(3) Severe marital discord
(4) Parental criminality
(5) Maternal psychopathology
(6) Placement of child outside the home

Question 25

What did Rutter (1985) believe about child psychopathology and risk factors?

Answer 25

The greater number of risk factors, the greater the negative outcome; i.e., psychiatric risk 2% for children with 1 or no risk and 21% for those with 4 or more risks

Question 26

Negative effects of prenatal and perinatal stress are not always irreversible and positive outcomes are possible IF…

Answer 26

They experience fewer stressors (e.g., family instability, maternal health problems, chronic poverty) following birth, have easy temperament, and are provided with stable support from parent or primary care giver.