Snapshot of early development Flashcards
Foundational Theories
Hypotheses
– Testable assumptions or predictions
* What is done in treatment is important, but so is the how and why.
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature
– Biological makeup
* Nurture
– External or outside environmental forces that
can/may influence our development
Growth & Development
Cognitive
– Increased ability to understand their world
* Motor
– Reflex integration
– Fine & gross motor control
* Social Emotional
– Participation in relationships with others
Contexts
Physical
* Cultural
* Social
* Personal
* Spiritual
* Temporal
* Virtual
Prenatal Period
Conception until birth
* Full term is considered 38 to 42 weeks’ gestation
* Development is greatly affected by what the mother does/eats/is exposed to
Infancy
Birth to about 18 months
* learn about world through sensory motor experiences
* Greatly impacted by social emotional, cultural, and cognitive influences
Early Childhood
18 months to 5 or 6 years
* Development of peer relationships
* Sense of independence from caregivers
* Motor and cognitive skills (especially language) are growing quickly
Middle Childhood
6 years to 12 years
* Refining motor skills
* Focus on academic tasks
* Peer relationships
Adolescence
12 years to 18 years
* Physical and emotional changes in preparation for
adulthood
Gross Motor Skills
Develop in an orderly sequence
– Head to toe (cephalocaudal)
– Proximal to distal (midline-outward)
* Gross usually precedes fine
– If gross is not developed, specifically trunk control, fine motor will be negatively affected
Fine Motor Skills
One of the Cornerstones of OT
* Small, refined movements of the arms, hands, fingers
– Self-feeding
– Grooming
– Manipulative play
– Writing
– scissors
Develop in orderly sequence
* Three categories:
– Grasp
– Reach
– Release
Calculating Chronological Age
Take the date you are testing/figuring, minus the child’s birth date
* Adjust for prematurity up to 2 years of age
* Round up to the nearest month if the difference is
15 or more days
