Physical Development Flashcards
Growth
A measurable change in size.
Development
An increase in skill level or maturity.
Development milestone
A key skill used to check a child’s progress.
Head to foot
Infants heads & abdomens are larger than the rest of their body.
Patterns of development
An infant’s physical development follows three basic patterns.
Near to far
Infants develop control over their torso before controlling their hands and fingers.
Simple to complex
Infants develop the ability to do easier things before harder things.
Fine motor skills
A skill that involves the smaller muscles of the body (such as fingers).
Motor skills
The use and control of body parts.
Gross motor skills
A skill that involves the large muscles of the body (such as shoulders and legs).
Physical development
The increase in a child’s ability to use their body.
