Physical

Development in
Early Childhood
Chapter 8
Body Growth
 From 2 years to 6 years they are called the “play years”
 Growth in Body Size
 Improvements in Motor Coordination
 Refinements in Perception

 Special attention to genetic and environmental factors

 Looking at connections to other domains of development
Body Growth
 Skeletal Growth Skeletal Brain
 Brain Development Brain
45 news
increases
2-6 years old growth
from 70% to
centers
90%
Brain
Estimate
reshapes
skeletal age
and refines
If some
areas
Girls ahead
damaged
of Boys in
can still form
growth
connections;
plasticity
 Handedness

Handedness is on the right

Handedness reflects one
side of the brain to carry out
skilled motor action on the
dominant side
By 1 year old most children
are right-handed
side of the brain. Language
is housed in the left side of
the brain with hand control.
Left handed language is
occasionally located in the
right hemisphere or shared

6 months more efficient with

right hand than left hand

10th prenatal week show

preference
Hippocampus: memory and images form
strong connections

Reticular Formation: alertness

Cerebellum: aids in balance and control

Corpus Collosum: Fibers connecting 2

Hemispheres

Subtitle
Lead Paint

Lead is extremely
toxic and causes
brain swelling,
disrupted
functioning of
neurons and wide-
spread cell death.

Correlation
between exposure
to lead and IQ
Beside lead-based paint, there
are studies with materials
coming from other countries and
now the water in Flint, Michigan.
Sleep Habits and
Problems
“I’m not tired!”
 Sleeping Habits
 Children who sleep well  Children who do not sleep well

 Better able to play, learn and be
positive
 More attention to details
 Able to handle change of situations
 Faster thinking in situations
 More positive with change
 Those who do not sleep well have
impaired cognitive performance
 Decreased attention
 Decreased speed of thinking
 Decreased working memory
 Decreased achievement test scores
 Decreased emotional adjustment
Why can’t they fall asleep…and stay asleep?
Parents
 Cultural Differences
 Co-sleeping
 Having siblings in the room
 Having a transitional object
 Inadequate parent control over tv,
computer and video game use
Biological
 Children requirements less in early
childhood
 Less likely to nap
 Children still need 9-10 hours
 Imaginations
 Nightmares (common)
 Night Terrors (genetic)
 Triggered by stress or fatigue
 Nutrition
Suggestion Description
Varied Healthy Diet Colorful and Attractive
Predictable Meals/Snacks Stomachs are small
Small portions/Serve Self Too much food on plate will eat
Healthy new foods often Before appetite is satisfied offer new
Mealtimes pleasant Pleasant engaging conversation
Avoid food as a reward “No dessert until you clean your plate”
Must eat and dessert is best
Infectious Disease
 Childhood Injuries

 Unintentional Diseases are the leading cause of

childhood mortality
 Auto Accidents, Drowning and Burns are the most
common cause of injuries

Injuries occur within a complex ecological system

Individual Differences
Temperamental Characteristics
Poverty, Single-Parenthood and Low Education
Dealing with daily stresses/monitor
BOYS
Higher activity level and greater
risk taking explains why they are
MORE likely to be injured and to
suffer severe injuries than girls
 Motor Development

 Gross Motor Development

 Balance is better as center of gravity shifts
 Steadier on their feet
 Able to run, jump, hop and leap
 Able to catch and throw

Sports
Parents need to remember that
gross motor skills are
developing and gaining strength
BUT they are not always
successful. Need practice and
time.
Fine Motor Skills
 Fine motor skills are control of the hands and fingers
 Self-Help skills
 Typing shoes
 Buttoning up shirts
 Zipping coats
 Drawing
 Scribbles
 First Representational Forms
 More Realistic Forms