Early Childhood Development Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts in early childhood development, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development, as described in the lecture notes.

What age range defines early childhood, according to the lecture?

Ages 3 through kindergarten.

What is Erikson's stage for early childhood?

Initiative versus guilt (ages 3 to 6).

What are two principles of physical growth mentioned in the lecture?

Cephalocaudal principle and mass-to-specific principle.

Name two types of physical talents discussed in the lecture.

Fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

Give an example of a fine motor skill typically developed by age 2.

Picking up small objects with thumb and forefinger.

Give an example of a gross motor skill typically developed around 12 months.

Walking unassisted.

What is a potential impact of lack of food or undernutrition?

Stunting, impairment of motor skills, and fatigue.

What is the age range for preoperational thinking, according to Piaget?

3 to 7 years.

What is a key characteristic of preoperational thinking?

Being locked into immediate appearances and inability to step back and think conceptually.

What type of cognitive tasks did Piaget use to assess children's understanding of substance?

Conservation tasks.

Name three types of conservation discussed in the lecture.

Number, mass, volume (or liquid), and matter.

What is a key reason young children struggle with conservation tasks?

Inability to understand reversibility and using centering to interpret things.

Define 'animistic thinking' as it relates to cognitive development.

Believing that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities.

Around what age does thinking become less static, marking a transition away from preoperations?

Around age 7 to 8.

What does Vygotsky's zone of proximal development refer to?

The idea that child learning occurs best when adult creates instruction that matches child’s capacities.

What is 'scaffolding' in the context of Vygotsky's theory?

Adult uses scaffolding to promote independent performance.

According to Vygotsky, how is language related to learning?

Language scaffolds all learning through inner speech.

Define 'phoneme'.

Basic sounds that make up words.

Define 'morpheme'.

The smallest units of meaning in a language.

Define 'syntax'.

The rules for forming sentences (grammar).

What is 'overregulation' in language development?

Putting irregular pasts and plurals into regular forms (e.g., 'runned').

What is the purpose of 'past-talk conversations'?

To scaffold personal child autobiography.

Around what age is theory of mind typically achieved?

Around age 4 or 5.

What is the 'false-belief task' used for?

Measuring theory of mind.

Name three qualities that may predict autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Poor social referencing, delayed language, attachment issues.

Give three examples of interventions or treatments for ASDs.

Operant conditioning, parent training, school-based peer interventions.

What is the function of exercise play in early childhood?

Exercises physical skills through running and chasing behavior.

Define rough-and-tumble play.

Excited shoving and wrestling behavior.

Around what age does collaborative pretend play typically start?

Around age 4.

Give three purposes of pretending, according to Vygotsky.

Allows adult role practice, allows sense of control, furthers social norm understanding.

What is a common characteristic of boys' play?

Excitedly run around; compete in groups; live in a more exclusionary, separate, more rigid world.

What is a potential biological cause of gender-stereotyped play?

In utero testosterone levels epigenetically affect DNA to program the brain.