Child Development in the First Two Years

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Questions and Answers

Which reflex is demonstrated when infants stretch out their arms and legs while laid horizontally on their stomachs?

Palmar grasping reflex

Babinski reflex

Moro reflex

Swimming reflex (correct)

What defines gross motor skills?

Physical abilities involving large body movements (correct)

Small body movements involving fingers

Responses to sensory stimuli

Movement skills acquired during infancy

Which of the following senses develops most acutely at birth?

Touch

Taste

Hearing (correct)

Vision

Which reflex is indicated when an infant flings their arms outward and then brings them together after being startled?

Moro reflex Signup and view all the answers

What is the average weight of an infant at birth?

3.4 kg Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between sensation and perception?

Sensation involves sensory organs, while perception is mental interpretation Signup and view all the answers

At what age does binocular vision typically appear in infants?

3 months Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the biological mechanism that protects the brain during malnutrition?

Headsparing Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sleep do newborns primarily experience?

Active sleep Signup and view all the answers

What is a common risk factor associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Low birth weight Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is the last to mature and is responsible for planning and impulse control?

Prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which reflex occurs when something touches an infant's palm, causing them to grip tightly?

Palmar grasping reflex Signup and view all the answers

What happens to neurons and synapses shortly after birth?

They proliferate and later undergo pruning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of axons in the nervous system?

Transmit signals to other neurons. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition describes a life-threatening injury caused by forcefully shaking an infant?

Shaken baby syndrome Signup and view all the answers

What term describes Piaget's belief that infants use their senses and motor skills to think during the sensorimotor stage?

Sensorimotor Intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Which process involves restructuring old ideas to include or adapt to new experiences according to Piaget?

Accommodation Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept called when infants understand that objects continue to exist even when they can't be seen?

Object Permanence Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language learning involves adults speaking in a high-pitched and repetitive manner to infants?

Child-Directed Speech Signup and view all the answers

In the context of infant cognitive development, what does the visual cliff demonstrate?

Depth Perception Signup and view all the answers

According to contemporary developmental theories, when can infants begin to show memory?

When experimental conditions mimic real life Signup and view all the answers

What do information-processing theorists argue about cognition?

It can be explained through computer functioning Signup and view all the answers

How does breastfeeding impact infant health outcomes as indicated by research?

Decreases the risk of malnutrition and supports growth Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Body Changes in the First Two Years

Average birth weight: 3.4 kg
Average birth length: 20 inches
Babies lose 5-7% of their birth weight in the first few days of life
Doctors and nurses measure height, weight, and head circumference to monitor growth
Abnormal growth may signal physical or psychological problems
Headsparing is a biological mechanism protecting the brain during malnutrition; the brain is the last part of the body to be affected
Brain weight comprises 75% of adult size in the first two years
Height and weight reach around 50% of adult size in the first two years

Brain Development

A neuron is a nerve cell, found in billions in the central nervous system
The cortex is the outer layer of the brain
Axons are fibers extending from neurons, transmitting electrochemical impulses between neurons and to dendrites

Child Brain Development

At birth, babies have 200 billion brain cells (neurons)
The brain grows at 1.7 grams per day during the first year
60% of infants' food energy goes towards brain growth.
Brain communication across different parts develops rapidly in the first two years.
By age 2, the brain is about 75% of its adult weight and has 100 trillion cell connections (synapses), which is the maximum in a lifetime.
DHA and choline are crucial for brain development
Calcium and Vitamin D are important for bone and teeth

Neurons and Synapses

Dendrites are fibers extending from a neuron, receiving transmitted electrochemical impulses from other neurons
A synapse is the intersection between one neuron's axon and the dendrites of another neuron
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals carrying information from one neuron to another

Dendritic Spreading

Dendritic spreading occurs in the initial years of life and is depicted in images showing a clear progression in pattern over time

Synaptic Density

Synaptic density in the brain increases considerably during infancy and reaches a peak in adolescence.
- The frontal cortex region, used for reasoning and self-regulation, has a slower development pattern than visual cortex and auditory cortex

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS occurs when babies die unexpectedly from unknown causes in early childhood.
Risk factors for SIDS include:
- Low birth weight
- Heavy bedding
- Teenage parenthood
- Maternal smoking
Putting babies to sleep on their backs can lessen the risk but does not completely eliminate the risk

Adequate Nutrition

Breastfeeding is vital for infant health and reduces disease risk. Malnutrition increases the risk of diseases.
Breastfed babies are less prone to allergies, asthma, obesity, and heart disease.
Breast milk composition changes as the baby grows to accommodate its nutritional needs

Piaget's Sensorimotor Intelligence

Sensorimotor intelligence is Piaget's concept of how infants process information via senses and motor skills during the first period of development
Assimilation is Piaget's term for adapting to new experiences by fitting them into existing ideas
Accommodation is Piaget's term for adapting old ideas to incorporate new experiences
Object permanence is the understanding that objects exist even when they are out of sight

Stages of Sensorimotor Development

Primary circular reactions (birth to 1 month): Reflexive behaviors like sucking, looking, and listening are repeated
Secondary circular reactions (1-4 months): Responses are directed towards objects and involve coordination of reflexes
Secondary Circular Reactions, Stage 3 (4-8 months): Infants engage in sights and use them to increase their experiences, recognizing connections with others.
Secondary Circular Reactions, Stage 4 (8-12 months): Purposefully acting on objects to make connections and encourage certain reactions
Tertiary circular reactions (12-18 months): Experimentation with objects and actions
Stage Six (18-24 months): Exploring multiple combinations to achieve goals

Information-Processing Theory

Information processing is a perspective mirroring computer functioning by analyzing how thought mechanisms work in different developmental stages
Detailing the steps of a thought process provides insights into cognitive mechanisms.
Information processing research refutes some of Piaget's theories

Sensorimotor Development- Object Permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight, developed around 6 months

Visual Cliff

The visual cliff is an experimental apparatus demonstrating depth perception in babies.

Early Memory

Classic theories believed infants couldn't form memories in the first year; newer theories show they can if conditions are favorable, especially mirroring real-life situations and high motivation

Language Learning

Child-directed speech (baby talk) is a high-pitched/simplified communication style
Babbling (repetition of sounds) develops between 6–9 months
Naming explosion is a period of rapid vocabulary development involving new words, particularly nouns, which starts around 18 months

Holophrases

Holophrases are single words used to express complete thoughts

Acquiring Grammar

Grammar covers the usage of words to produce meaning, including sequence, prefixes, suffixes, intonation, and more

Hypotheses About Language Development

Infants have to be taught language, and their spontaneous babbling is reinforced
Parents and caregivers are important teachers of language
Repetition reinforces word learning, especially when associated with positive experiences

Language Learning is Innate

The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a mental structure aiding language acquisition, encompassing many aspects, including vocabulary, grammar, and intonation

Infants communicate in different ways because humans are social beings that depend on each other

Motor Skills

Early movements are reflexes, not yet skills, reacting involuntarily to stimuli

Motor Development

Different developmental milestones in motor skills (sitting unsupported, standing alone, walking, running, jumping), demonstrating the progression.

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Description

Explore the critical body and brain changes that occur in infants during their first two years of life. Learn about average growth metrics, brain development, and the importance of monitoring health to prevent potential issues. This quiz covers key concepts and facts related to early childhood development.