Assignment 2 – Sheila Tipon Educ 201 -1C
1. Write a summary of the key features of the development during prenatal period, infancy and toddlerhood.
Physical Development Cognitive
Prenatal  Germinal period – rapid
cell division and
beginning of cell
differntiation
 Embryonic period –
Basic forms of all body
structures develop
 Fetal period – fetus
grows in size and
matures in functioning
Major development
occurs, in the head
region first and the
extremities last.
The fetus grows from
the inside of the body
onwards.
 At 3 months, the
mother’s womb
becomes the sensory
playgound of the fetus.
The fetus learns to
move his/her arms,
stretch his/her fingers,
smile or suck the thumb.
 At 4 months, the fetus
learns to kick, pee and
how to swallow. The
taste buds are
Socio-emotional
 The second month is a
crucial point in the
neurological
development, as the
brain grows at a rate of
around 100,000 cells
each minute. If the
mother consumes
alcohol and drugs, or
experiences extreme
stress or trauma, the
tiny brain can get
damaged. This can lead
to math problems at
school etc. If the mother
stays healthy and can
relax, the brain can
develop to its full
potential.
 During the sixth month,
a major mark of brain
development occurs;
the brain’s cerebral
cortex splits into two
hemispheres.
 Fetal movements
appear – rolling and
kicking
 As the fetus wriggles,
kicks and turns, the
mother will start to feel
the fetus moving. If she
responds, the fetus will
learn that for every
action, there is a
reaction.
 At 7 months, when the
fetus hears the mother
speak, he/she may
respond with an
increased heartbeat and
movement. Some
researchers claim that
the fetus begins to learn
language from hearing
voices from outside.
 In the last month, the
fetus keeps practicing
his/her motor skills and
kicks. When the mother
laughs, eats sweets or
drinks, the fetus
responds by bouncing
up and down.
 developing. If the
mother eats a wide
variety of things, the
fetus learns to
appreciate different
tastes and become less
fussy eaters later in life.
 Month 5 is the start of
the development of the
teeth and the first real
hair, fingernails,
eyebrows, and
eyelashes.

Infancy  The newborn has some Shortly after birth, a baby’s  Basic behavior patterns
basic reflexes which brain produces trillions more are organized and many
are automatic and connection between neurons ontogenetic
serve as survival than it can possibly use. The maturational skills
mechanism before they brain eliminates connections emerge.
have the opportunity to that are seldom or never used.  Babble, cry, or gesture
learn. Many reflexes The infant’s brain is literally for communication and
which are present at waiting for experiences to social skills
birth will generally determine how connections are
subside within a few made. Neonate displays
months as the baby reflexes and skills that help in
grows and matures. the process of development.
 A newborn baby has the
capacity for all life-
sustaining activities
such as breathing,
sucking and discharging
body waste.
 Infants learn to use their
upper limbs before
lower limbs.

Toddlerhood  The child becomes  Develop mental abilities  Language and

more mobile and able to that prepare the child for elementary reasoning
 widen the sphere of
her/his activities beyond
family.
 Locomotion skills
become more refined.
 The child is capable of
coordinated actions
while maintaining body
balance and muscle
coordination.
schooling.
 Capacities for sustained
attention continue to
improve during this
stage.
 There is improvement in
perceptual skills or
ability to identify finer
aspects of objects.
 Children become more
selective in attention,
able to concentrate and
focus on relevant
aspects and ignore or
distract irrelevant
stimuli.
are acquired and initial
socialization is
experienced.
 The child learns the
rules of appropriate
social behavior.
 One learns the social
practices, rules and
convention in their
families and society
through socialization.

2. Review the 14 Learner-Centered Principles. Identify the pedagogical principles that apply to each stage of development. Fill out the
table below.

Cluster of Principles Prenatal Infancy Toddlerhood

Principles referring to Cognitive
and Metacognitive Factors
Principle:
Nature of the learning process
Maternal exposure to adverse
events during pregnancy, such
as infection, stress,
malnutrition or toxic
substances will impact the
development of offspring that
may lead to cognitive
impairments.
Babies learn to focus their
vision, reach out things, explore
and learn the things around
them. Learning language starts
by making babble sounds like
saying “ma-ma”, “da-da”, etc.
The best cognitive
development activities for
toddlers integrate learning with
play. The following cognitive
activities are:
 hiding and finding
objects
 nursery rhymes, stories,
and sing-alongs
 letter and number
games
 simple routines and
procedures
 sorting sizes, shapes
 and colors
 arts and crafts
 playing outside and
visiting places

Principles referring to
Motivational and Affective Stress, anxiety, or depression Babies start to notice things For toddlers, let them have a
Factors during pregnancy can increase that are happening around safe space to explore different
the risk of pregnancy them. The baby will form emotions that contribute to
Principle: complications such as low special bonds with caring emotional development.
Motivational and emotional adults, explore the world Activities may include:
infant birth weight and preterm
influences on learning around them by touching,  Building children’s
labor. looking and engaging within vocabulary of emotions
safe spaces with caregivers. will ultimately help them
They will also learn more about manage their emotions
emotions by watching you,  Mindfulness supports
sharing a smile and calming improvement in
with your help. Activities may learning, health and
include: self-regulation and
 attunement play like attention in children.
peek a boo and baby  Books that talk about,
talk model and practice the
 Music like common feelings expressed by
songs “If you’re happy the characters in the
and You know It” which book.
conveys happiness and
“Twinkle winkle Little
Stars” which conveys
curiosity to begin to
think about emotions
 Books – reading to
infants while mimicking
the emotions of
characters help them
start to recognize
emotions in themselves
and others.
Principles referring to
Developmental and Social
Factors
Principle:
Social influences on learning
Indulging in some nice reading
activity so that it can help to
calm down and help the baby
in the womb.
Social interactions permit
infants to engage in activities
such as play which enhances
their fine and gross motor skills
and develop their self-
regulation. It promotes
language learning, allowing the
infant’s brain to process sounds
and words, and remember
them for later use. Things like
smiling and responding, making
eye contact or calming down
when held by a familiar adult
are social milestones.
The social environment
influences learning by creating
a language environment which
stimulate the mind to grow and
by systematically rewarding a
child for learning. It is the job
of the parents or home, teacher
and school to ensure that
children develop completely in
their social relationships with
other people and with the value
system of their society.

Principles referring to Individual

Differences Factors  The mother's health, Genetic and environmental Genetics and environmental
the prenatal factors: factors:
Principle: environment, multiple
Individual differences in The environment the child is The environment the child is
babies, and the
learning raised or the experiences they raised or the experiences they
mother's age are
factors for a baby to be have (nurture). have (nurture).
born prematurely.
Other influential factors are Other influential factors are
 Combinations of genes
innate (nature). These innate innate (nature). These innate
or extra chromosomes
individual differences might individual differences might
can lead to genetic
include health, heredity, include health, heredity,
deformities such as
physical characteristics and physical characteristics and
down syndrome, Tay-
temperament. temperament.
Sachs disease, Marfan
syndrome, or cystic
fibrosis.
 If the mother ingests
harmful substances
(drugs, alcohol, or other
teratogens) when
pregnant, she puts her
baby at a higher risk to
be born with disabilities.