Foundations for Growth & Development

Question 1

What is Growth? How does it differ from Development?

Answer 1

Increase in physical size (height & weight);
results in increased size & weight of whole or parts.

• orderly process, occurring in systematic fashion.
• rates & patterns of growth specific to certain parts of body.
• Wide individual rate difference

Question 2

What is Development? How does it differ from Growth?

Answer 2

• increase in mental, physical, social & emotional abilities;
• gradual functional & physiological maturation;
• advancement from lower to more advanced stage of complexity;
• increased capacity through growth, maturation, learning.
• proceeds simple to complex & from general to specific.
• occurs in a cephalocaudal & proximodistal progression.
• Continuous throughout the life span
• Includes cognitive, psychological, psychosexual

Question 3

What is Maturation?

Answer 3

• Increase in competency & adaptability

- Qualitative change to higher level

Question 4

What is Differentiation?

Answer 4

Processes by which early cells & structures are systematically modified & altered

Question 5

What are the directional patterns of growth?

Answer 5

cephalocaudal
proximodistal
Mass to specific

Sequential Pattern
Predictable sequence

Question 6

What are the stages of childhood?

Answer 6

Prenatal: Conception to the Birth
Neonatal: Birth to 28 days (Early & Late)
Infancy: 29 days to 12 months
Early Childhood: 1 year to 6 years
Middle childhood: 6 to 12 years
Late Childhood & Adolescent: 12 to18 years

Question 7

What are the 3 major domains and what do they influence?

Answer 7

1. Physical
2. Cognitive
3. Psychosocial
   Each domain influences & integrates:
   Gross Motor
   Fine Motor (adaptive)
   Communication & language
   Cognitive (personal & social)

Question 8

388: Observe and assess…

Answer 8

..how the child plays, learns, speaks, behaves

Question 9

Physical Growth: Weight

Answer 9

Newborn decrease weight of10% of birth weight & regain by 10th Day.
Birth weight doubles by 4th month & triples by one year; 4 times BW by 2 years of age.

Question 10

Physical Growth: Height

Answer 10

At Birth: 50cm; 6 months: +12 cm to birth length;

1 year: 75 cm; 2 years: 85 cm; 2-5 years:+6 to 8 cm per year; 5 years: approximately 5 cm per year

Question 11

What are some growth trends?

Answer 11

-rapid growth during infancy & adolescence
-slower gains in early & middle childhood
-gender differences: girls retain somewhat more
-body fat; boys slightly more muscular
-posture & balance improve so gains in motor
coordination
-individual differences in body size become more apparent with age

Question 12

Biologic ‘Growth’ & ‘Physical Development’

Answer 12

External proportions
Biologic determinants
Skeletal growth & maturation
Neurologic maturation
Lymphoid tissue
Organ system

Question 13

How do hormones and heredity impact growth?

Answer 13

physical size & rate of growth related to parents

Growth hormone (GH)-body tissues

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) development of brain & body

Changes in body proportions occur dramatically during childhood.

Question 14

What is Plasticity?

Answer 14

• Plasticity refers to significant shaping of immature brain by life experiences, social influences, & environment.
• Develops in “spurts” when brain is best equipped to learn certain skill

Question 15

What hemisphere is more dominant? For how long?

Answer 15

Right hemisphere has growth spurt in first 1½ years & is dominant for first 3 years.

Question 16

When does the brain go through growth spurts? How many? What is pruning?

Answer 16

Birth to 6 years,
3 growth spurts followed by pruning;
-Synapses & neurons activated preserved or pruned.

Question 17

What are some early negative factors?

Answer 17

Lack of critical early nurturing
Chaotic & cognitively impoverished environments
Pervasive physical threat
Watching violence
Inadequate nutrition
Early, frequent, & intense stress
Drugs ,Alcohol, Toxins (smoking, lead, chemicals)

Question 18

How does Cortisol impact brain development?

Answer 18

High levels of Cortisol can slow brain development and child may experience more cognitive, motor, and social delays.

Question 19

What are some positive experiences that influence brain development?

Answer 19

Loving care & touch
Consistent, individual attention
Everyday, simple activities 
Exposure to new experiences
Understand child development
Talking

Add music
Limit television
Balance: pay attention to the whole child
Read & respond to child’s cues

Question 20

How do you create a safe environment for brain development?

Answer 20

Remove any physical threats.

Responsive to crying.

Reduce stress by making child’s world safe, secure, responsive

Predictable daily routines.

Adequate nutrition & hydration

Question 21

What are “Windows” of learning?

Answer 21

Periods when particular experiences are especially important or when some skills are more easily developed.

Question 22

What do the most important “windows” involve?

Answer 22

emotional & social development

Question 23

Windows for opportunity by age 2, 5, birth to 4, birth to 10, and 3-10?

Answer 23

By age 2 – emotional control
By age 2 – social attachment
By age 5 – motor development
Birth to 10 years – language skills
Birth to 4 years – visual development
Birth to 4 years – math  & logic skills
3 to 10 years – music

Question 24

Is brain development linear?

Answer 24

NO, non-linear and most developmental achievements occur naturally

Question 25

When are most synaptic connections made and when do they start to decline?

Answer 25

By age 3, 80% of synaptic connections are made.
Connections decline after this time to age 10.
During first 10 yrs, brain is twice as active as adults

Question 26

What are developmental milestones?

Answer 26

-Average level of development of a child
-Range of normal
Skills example: rolling over, taking a first step, smiling for the first time, crawling, waving “bye-bye”

Question 27

Why do a developmental assessment?

Answer 27

Early detection of deviation
Ensure adequate surveillance of developmental progress

Domains assessed: cognitive, motor, language, social / behavioral, & adaptive
Screening, early detection & treatment to improving health and well being

Question 28

What are the stages of Erikson’s psychosocial development theory?

Answer 28

Trust vs. mistrust (birth to 1 year)
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (1 to 3 years)
Initiative vs. guilt (3 to 6 years)
Industry vs. inferiority (6 to 12 years)
Identity vs. role confusion (12 to 18 years)

Question 29

What are the stages of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

Answer 29

Sensorimotor (birth to 2 years)
Preoperational (2 to 7 years)
Concrete operations (7 to 11 years)
Formal operations (11 to 15 years)

Question 30

What are the stages of Freud’s psychosocial development theory?

Answer 30

Oral stage (birth to 1 year)
Anal stage (1 to 3 years)
Phallic stage (3 to 6 years)
Latency period (6 to 12 years)
Genital stage (≥12 years)

Question 31

How do children learn?

Answer 31

By doing

Question 32

How should parents promote learning?

Answer 32

Modelling, providing opportunities, repetition, encouragement

Question 33

What are the 7 essentials for early development?

Answer 33

1. Encourage exploration.
2. Mentor in basic skills.
3. Celebrate developmental advances.
4. Rehearse and extend new skills.
5. Protect from inappropriate disapproval, teasing, neglect, & punishment.
6. Communicate richly &responsively.
7. Guide & limit behavior; teach what is acceptable.

Question 34

What is the fastest growing part of a child?

Answer 34

-During first few years, brain grows faster than any other part of the body.