Physical Growth

childrens body growth and change

average growth is 2.5 inches and 5-7 pounds
a year during early childhood
girls are slightly smaller and lighter
top-heavy look
Legs and trunk lengthen
Body fat declines

Physical Growth
growth variations due to:
Genetics
Nutrition
Prenatal problems
Life experiences
Socio-economic status

Brain Development
brain growth in early childhood is not as
rapid as in infancy
end of early childhood, brain size only
increases 15%
changes occur more in neurons

Brain Development
Changes in childs brain structures:

increase in number & size of nerve

endings
Increased myelination (myelin sheath)
better focus & coordination
Most rapid growth in frontal lobe (decision
making & thinking)

Gross Motor Development

Simple run and jump movements enjoyed at
age 3
Child is more adventurous at age 4
Child is self assured taking hair raising risks
at age 5
Climbing & going down the stairs

Handedness
1:9 (left to right handed)
Right handedness is dominant in all cultures
& appears to be genetically influenced
About 45% of right handed people primarily
process speech in left hemisphere of brain

Handedness
Left handers are:
more varied in their speech processing
More likely to have reading problems
More common in musicians,
mathematicians, architects and artists

Obesity in Early Childhood

Engage in physical activity
Healthy diet
Dont use food as reward or proof of love

Piagets Preoperational Stage

Substages:
1. Symbolic Function (2-4 years)
Egocentrism child cannot see other
peoples perspective
Animism child assigns life-like qualities to
inanimate objects

Piagets Preoperational Stage

Substages:
2. Intuitive Thought
Centration
Lacks conservation abilities
Lacks mental reversibility
Cannot perform seriation

The Self
Eriksons Initiative vs. Guilt
Self-Understanding
Childs cognitive representation of the self
Develops along with self-recognition (18 mos)
Self-description / Self-conception

physical characteristics, physical actions, or

material possessions

As children age, there is increased:

Emotional understanding
Use of emotion language/vocabulary
Ability to reflect on emotion
Need to control and manage emotions to
meet social standards

Piagets Stages of Moral Development

1. Below 4 years old, rules are meaningless
2. Heteronomous morality (4 to 7)

rules are absolute

Focus on actions consequence and not intention
Imminent justice belief that if rule is broken,
punishment will be given immediately

Piagets Stages of Moral Development

*between ages 7 and 10 years, there is transition
3. Autonomous morality (10 yrs and above)
Rules can be changed because they are created by
humans
Judgment of behavior should be based on both
intentions and consequences

Gender
Social and psychological dimensions of being male
and female
Two Aspects of Gender
Gender Identity sense of being male and female
Gender Role expectations of being masculine
and feminine; how one acts, feels or thinks

Theories on Gender Development

1. Psychoanalytic Theory child is sexually attracted
to opposite sex parent but eventually identifies
with same sex parent
2. Social Cognitive Theory gender roles are learned

through observation, imitation, rewards,

punishments

Theories on Gender Development

3. Cognitive Developmental Theory child organizes
his/her world on basis of gender; also achieves
gender constancy
2. Gender Schema Theory child perceives what is

gender-appropriate or inappropriate in their

culture; conform to gender stereotypes

Influences of Gender Development

Family
Peers
School and Teachers
TV/Media

1. AUTHORITATIVE

limits given but also nurturing and encouraging

Independence within those limits
Socially competent

2. AUTHORITARIAN

Highly controlling; little discussion

Socially incompetent; fearful, weak
communication skills

3. NEGLECTFUL

Uninvolved in childs life

Socially incompetent; lacks self-control, immature

4. INDULGENT/PERMISSIVE

Highly involved but with few demands or restraints

Socially incompetent; impulsive, aggressive, non
compliant

 Dual-earner families
Extended families
Single parent families
Families with OFW parents
Step families
Families with adopted child/children
Families with same sex parents