Lifespan Chapter 5 Flashcards
Body changes in height and weight for early childhood
height - they grow about 3 inches per year
weight - they gain about 4.5 pounds per year
What effects growth in early childhood?
Genetic background, health, and nutrition
Appetite changes in early childhood
Child’s appetite slows as they grow which worries parents because they think their child is not eating enough. Clean plate club is introduced but does not send kids a healthy message.
Define: Just right phenomeon
The child must have things a certain way. This is their attempt to bring order to their world. This is very normal for children under the age of 6.
Overweight in early childhood
A child is considered overweight when their body weight is above the recommended range for their age, gender, and height, but not as high as in cases of obesity. This can be an early sign of potential health risks but may not always lead to immediate problems
Obesity in early childhood
obesity is more severe condition, where the child has a significantly higher body weight and body fat compared to their peers. Children are typically classified as obese if their BMI is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the sme age and gender. Obesity at such a young age can increase the risk of long-term health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues.
Gross motor skills
Running, climbing, jumping, and throwing
Fine motor skills
Small body movements
This is difficult for 2-6 year olds because they have insufficient muscular control, lack of patience and judgement, fingers are short and fat, and they have incomplete myelination.
Brain maturation: Myelination
Large reason for brain growth
Insulates nerves and speeds up neural communication
Now can think and react quicker
Brain maturation: Corpus collosum
Nerve fibers that connect to halves of the brain
Grow and myelinate
Helps coordinate functions, so they can use both sides of their brain and body
Two brain sides are not identical
Brain maturation: Pre-frontal cortex
Last part of the brain to fully mature
Helps with planning, selecting, and coordinating thoughts
Helps with self-control and self-regulation
If the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed they can have impulsiveness and perseverance (in an unhealthy way)
What is an underdeveloped brain?
Causes poor emotional control, classroom learning, and peer relationships, which are all seen in school years
What is the limbic system?
Is crucial to emotions
What is the Amygdala?
Almond-shaped, deep within the brain structure, and registers basic emotions like fear and aggression
What is the hippocampus?
next to the amygdala and processes memories
