Chapter 4 - Physical development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Dendrities

Connections between neurons will undergo a period of transient exuberance or temporary dramatic growth.

Synaptogenesis

the formation of connections between neurons continues from the prenatal period forming thousands of new connections during infancy and toddlerhood

Synaptic Blooming

Period of rapid neural growth

myelin

a coating of fatty tissues around the axon of the neuron

Gross Motor Skills

Large motor Skills

Voluntary movements involve the use of large muscle groups and are typically large movements of the arms, legs, head and torso.

• Skills begin to develop first

• Examples include moving to bring the chin up when lying on the stomach, moving the chest up, rocking back and forth on hands and knees, and then crawling.

Milestones

behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop that typically occur within normal range.

Fine Motor Skills

More exact movements of the feet and toes, hands, and fingers.

• Small motor skills

• ability to reach and grasp and object in coordination with vision.

Pincer Grip

This ability greatly enhances the ability to control and manipulate an object and infants take great delight in this newfound ability. 

Circumsized

A surgical procedure typically performed on male infants that involves the removal of the foreskin from the penis.

Marasmus

refers to starvation due to lack of calories and protein

children who do not recieve adequate nutrition lose fat and muscle until their bodies can no longer function.

Kwashiorkor 

“Disease of the displaced child” 

• often occurring after another child has been born and taken over breast feeding. 

Failure to Thrive (FTT)

Occurs in child whose nutritional intake in insufficient for supporting normal growth and weight gain.

• typically presents before two years of age, when growth rate are highest.

• Parents may express concern about picky eating habits, poor weight gain or smaller size compared relative to peers of similar age.

Gross Motor - 2 months

• Can hold up head and begin to push up when lying on tummy

• Makes smoother movements with arms and legs

Gross Motor - 4 Months

• Holds head up steady, unsupported

• Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface

• May be able to roll over from tummy to back

• Brings hands to mouth

• When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows

Gross Motor - 6 Months 

• Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front) 

• Begins to sit without support 

• When standing, Supports weight on legs and might bounce 

• Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward. 

Gross Motor - 9 mo 

• Stands, holding on

• Can get into sitting position

• Sits without support 

• Pulls to stand 

• Crawls 

Gross Motor - 1 year

• Gets to a sitting position without help

• Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture

• May take a few steps without holding on

• May stand alone

Gross Motor - 18 months

• Walks alone

• May walk up steps and run

• Pulls toys while walking

• Can help undress self

Gross Motor - 2 years 

• Stands on tiptoes 

• Kicks a ball 

• Begins to run 

• Climbs onto and down from furniture without help 

• Walks up and down stairs holding on

• throws ball overhand

Fine Motor - 2 months

• Grasps reflexively

• Does not reach for objects

• Holds hands in fist

Fine Motor - 4 months

• Brings hands to mouth

• Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it

• Follows moving things with eyes from side to side

Fine Motor Skills - 6 Months 

• Reaches with both arms 

• Brings things to mouth 

• Begins to pass things from one hand to the other 

Fine Motor - 9 months

• Puts things in mouth

• Moves things smoothly from one hands to the other

• Picks up things between thumb and index finger (pincer grip)

Fine Motor - 1 year

• Reaches with one hand

• Bangs two things together

• Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container

• lets things go without help

• Pokes with index (pointer) finger

Fine Motor - 18 Months 

• Scribbles on own 

• Can help undress self 

• Drinks from a cup 

• Eats with a spoon with some accuracy

• Stacks 2-4 objects 

Fine Motor - 2 Years

• Builds towers of 4 or more blocks

• Might use one hand more than the other

• Makes copies of straight lines and circles

• Enjoys pouring and filing

• Unbuttons large buttons

• Unzips large zippers

• Drinks and feeds self with more accuracy