Leap 10: The world of systems

Question 1

What brain changes occur?

Answer 1

• Between 16 and 24 months, the number of synapses in the cerebrum vastly increase both within the various subareas of the cerebrum and in between those subareas.
• In the 2nd half of the second year, a part of the cerebrum behind the forehead matures (the orbitofrontal lobe), and a cascade of new skills emerge.
• The right half of the brain develops in leaps and bounds in the first year and a half. Then development in the left half of the brain, where language centers reside, takes over.

Question 2

What are the signs leap is beginning (fussy phase)?

Answer 2

• cries more often
• frequently bad-tempered or cranky
• demands more attention
• Pronounced mood swings
• want to be kept busy more often
• clings more to parent, or more often.
• acts unusually sweet
• mischievious
• throws temper tantrums, or more often
• shyer, or more shy
• jealous, or more often so
• protests more or more often when put down from being held.
• sleeps poorly
• seems to have nightmares more frequently
• loses appetite
• babbles less often
• sometimes just sit there, daydreaming
• refusal of being dressed or getting diaper changed.
• sucks thumb, or more often
• reaches for a soft toy, or more often.
• more babyish.

Question 3

What happens during this leap?

Answer 3

• For the first time, they will perceive “systems” (“system” encompasses our idea of an organized unit.) (Families, church, school, worldviews, sciences, and so on)
• They start being more flexible in how they apply principles.
• They understand they can choose what they want to be: honest, helpful, careful, etc
• They are developing the earliest beginnings of a conscience, of systematically applying values and norms.
• The system they know best is themselves. They start to develop their notion of self, and self-consciousness.
  Begins to understand that their parents are separate people.
• They become less “egocentric”
• They start to develop a sense of time. Are better able to recall past experiences and have a better understanding of what the future will bring.

Question 4

What is observable during the easy period?

Answer 4

• is a little less troublesome
• power struggles still occur though
• Difficult periods are no longer marked by the three C’s.