Early Childhood Development: Growth, Brain, and Safety in Ages 2-6

Early childhood age range

2-6 years

Body Growth rate

Slows compared to infancy

Average height growth per year

2-3 inches

Average weight gain per year

4-5 pounds

Body proportions change

Become more proportional and less baby-like

Skeletal growth

Bones continue to harden (ossification)

Epiphyses

Growth centers in bones that appear between ages 2-6

Skeletal age

Estimate of physical maturity using X-rays

Why measure skeletal age

Detect growth disorders

Baby teeth importance

Can decay easily and need proper care

Brain growth (ages 2-6)

Rapid increase in size and development

Brain activity spike

Occurs around ages 4-5

Brain plasticity

Ability of brain to adapt and change

When is plasticity highest

Early childhood

Brain specialization

Different areas take on specific functions

Frontal lobe function

Planning, decision-making, self-control

Left hemisphere role

Language development

Handedness begins

Infancy

Handedness in preschoolers

Clear preference for one hand

Percentage right

handed - About 90%

Handedness strongest in

Complex skills like writing and throwing

Influences on handedness

Genetics, environment, culture

Main influences on physical growth

Heredity, hormones, nutrition, disease, injuries

Heredity effect on growth

Children's size and growth relate to parents

Pituitary gland

Controls growth hormones

Growth hormone (GH)

Stimulates physical growth

Thyroid

stimulating hormone (TSH) - Regulates metabolism and growth

Preschool appetite

Decreases

Diet needs for preschoolers

High-quality, nutrient-rich foods

Portion size

Smaller than adults

Eating pattern

Frequent snacks throughout the day

Why children's diets are influenced by others

They imitate adults and peers

Effect of infectious disease

Causes malnutrition and poor development

Childcare and illness

Increased exposure leads to more illness

Impact of illness

Affects physical and cognitive development

Immunizations effect

Reduce childhood disease

Why immunizations are required

Needed for school entry

Reason some are not immunized

Access issues, beliefs, misinformation

Leading cause of childhood death (developed countries)

Unintentional injuries

Examples of childhood injuries

Car accidents, drowning, falls, burns

Ways to prevent injuries

Supervision, safety instruction, safe environment

Car safety rule

Child must be restrained in back seat

Important safety factor

Know child's temperament