Promoting babies' and young childrens' physical & emotional well-being Flashcards
What influences a child’s growth and discovery?
Their environment and the people they interact with
Why are the earliest years of an individual’s life critical?
That’s when their senses are being developed
Who developed the attachment theory?
John Bowlby, though it was later expanded by Mary Ainsworth
What is attachment?
The emotional bonding between a child and their caregiver
How does secure attachment form?
When a caregiver consistently responds to a child’s needs in a sensitive and appropriate manner
What are characteristics of secure attachment?
- Confidence
- Resilience
- Positive social behaviours
What are the benefits of secure attachment?
- Emotional regulation
- Social competence
- Cognitive development
- Physical health
How do you promote secure attachment?
- Responsive caregiving
- Consistency
- Positive interactions
Why is physical health during early childhood important?
It is foundational to long term well-being
What aspects are included in physical health?
Nutrition, sleep and routine healthcare
Why are regular paediatric check ups important?
To ensure children are meeting developmental milestones as well as receiving necessary vaccinations and health screenings
Why is nutrition important?
It’s crucial for brain development, immune function and energy to explore and learn
Why is sleep important?
It’s vital for growth, learning and emotional regulation
What kind of physical activities are developmentally appropriate for infants? (birth to 1 year)
- Tummy time
- Reaching and grasping
- Crawlling
How does tummy time help develop physical development?
It helps to strengthen the neck, shoulder and arm muscles
How does reaching and grasping help encourage physical development?
Encouraging reaching for and grasping toys helps to develop hand-eye coordination
How does crawling help physical development?
It enhances muscle development, coordination and spatial awareness
What kind of physical activities are developmentally appropriate for toddlers? (1 year to 3 years)
- Walking and running
- Throwing and kicking
- Dancing and jumping
How does walking and running help physical development?
To improve balance and leg strength
How does throwing and kicking help with physical development?
Helps develop gross motor skills
How does dancing and jumping help physical development?
These activities promote rhythm, coordination and muscle strength
What kind of physical activities are developmentally appropriate for preschoolers? (4 years to 6 years)
- Structured games
- Balance activities
- Swimming
How do structured games help with physical development?
Simple sports teach rules and cooperation
How do balance activities help with physical development?
Riding a tricycle or bicycle, balancing on a beam, enhance coordination and muscle strength
How does swimming help physical development?
It’s a fun all-body exercise that enhances muscle development and coordination
How do you ensure safety in physical activites?
- Safe environment
- Supervision
- Adaptation to individual needs
How do you ensure an environment is safe for children?
Ensuring areas have appropriate flooring and equipment sized for children
How do you encourage active play?
- Role modelling: Caregivers and educators should actively participate to encourage children
- Routine incorporation
- Variety and fun
When can you introduce solid foods to children?
Around 6 months. Begin with iron-fortified cereals and progressively introduce pureed fruits, vegetables & meats
What are the reasons on why healthy eating and nutrition important?
- Growth and development (development of organs, muscles, bones)
- Brain development (cognitive development and brain function)
- Immune system support (reducing the risk of infections and diseases)
Why can’t children consume breastmilk forever?
The child is ready for other food. Initially, children don’t have the stomach acid to break down food
How do you deal with picky eaters?
Involve them in meal preparation and offer a variety of foods without pressure
How should meals be for preschoolers?
Increase the variety and teach them healthy eating habits
How do you measure portion size?
According to the child’s age and activity level
Why is overfeeding bad?
It leads to obesity
Why is routine and structure important?
It creates environments that promote both emotional stability and physical health, giving children a sense of security and predictability
Why is an environment providing young children a sense of security and predictability important?
- To reduce anxiety
- Promote independence
- Enhance learning
- Establish healthy eating habits
How does a routine and structured environment reduce a child’s anxiety?
Knowing what to expect helps children feel more secure and less anxious
How does a routine and structured environment promote independence for children?
Regular routines teach children how to control themselves and their environments
How does a routine and structured environment enhance a child’s learning?
Predictable schedules allow children to anticipate what happens next, which can enhance their cognitive development by reinforcing patterns and sequences
How does a routine and structured environment establish healthy eating habits for a child?
Routines help instill habits of hygiene, eating, sleeping and physical activity, which contribute to overall health
What would a well-structured day for children include?
- Regular wake-up and bedtimes
- Planned mealtimes
- Physical activity
- Quiet time
- Play time
How do regular wake up and bedtimes support children?
Consistent sleep times support the development of the body’s internal clock and can improve sleep quality
Why is sleep quality important?
It’s crucial for physical and emotional health
Why are planned mealtimes important?
They help regulate metabolism and help prevent overeating or undereating, supporting nutritional health
Why is quiet time important?
They can be beneficial for relaxation and stress relief, even if the child doesn’t take a nap
Why is play time important?
Free play is essential for social, emotional and cognitive development. Structured playtime can also be included to introduce and practice new skills
How is the emotional development in infants?
They begin to express basic emotions such as joy, anger, surprise and fear. They rely on caregivers to respond to their emotional expressions
How is the emotional development in toddlers?
Toddlers start to experience more complex emotions, shame, guilt, pride, embarrassment. They begin to understand some emotional rules, such as what situations cause certain emotional reactions
How is the emotional development in preschoolers?
Children start to develop empathy and can identify emotions in others. They also begin to understand that someone can have mixed emotions about a situation
What is emotional regulation?
The ability to manage and respond to an emotional experience in an appropriate manner
What is emotional expression?
How we convey our feelings through words, facial expressions, tone of voice and body language
Why is learning to express emotions appropriately important?
For developing social skills and building relationships
How to encourage emotional expression?
- Talk about feelings
- Provide tools for expression (art, music, dance, play)
- Roleplaying and social stories
- Positive reinforcement
How to teach emotional regulation to children?
- Modelling
- Labeling emotions
- Teaching coping skills
- Creating a supportive environment
How to teach emotional regulation through modelling?
Model calm behaviour and show how to cope with frustration or disappointment
How to help children label emotions?
Use books, stories and daily interactions as opportunities to discuss feelings
Give some examples of coping techniques for dealing with strong emotions
- Deep breathing
- Counting to ten
- Using words to express feelings
How to create a supportive environment for children to express themselves?
Having adults who are responsive and available to help them process their feelings
What are some activities that encourage physical and emotional development?
Sensory play and exploration
What are some examples of sensory play for touch?
- Sand and water tables
- Play dough
What are some examples of sensory play for sight?
- Color sorting games
- Light tables
What are some examples of sensory play for sound?
- Musical instruments
- Sound matching games
What are some examples of sensory play for smell and taste?
- Scented play dough
- Tasting parties
Why is creating safe environment important in early childhood settings?
Its critical for fostering healthy development and ensuring that children can explore and learn without risk of harm
What creates emotional safety?
- Supportive interactions
- Inclusive environment
- Encouraging expression
What are supportive interactions?
- Positive relationships: Caregivers should be responsive and attentive to children’s needs and signals
- Consistency: Helps children feel secure and build trust
What creates an inclusive environment?
- Respect for diversity: Respect and reflect the diverse backgrounds of the children, including cultural, racial, and family diversity
- Special needs: Accommodate children with special needs, ensuring that the environment and activities are accessible to everyone
What encourages expression?
- Open communication: Create channels for children to express their feelings freely without judgement
- Conflict resolution: Teach and model healthy ways to solve conflicts
