19/10/23: Development II

Embryo

2-8 weeks after conception

Fetus

8 weeks into birth

Age of Viability

The point in pregnancy, around 26 weeks, where the fetus has developed enough to potentially survive if born prematurely, dependent on lung development.

Neonate

A newborn baby transitioning from being a fetus

Vision

Not fully developed at birth but becomes well-developed by 6 months. Newborns can only see objects within 7-10 inches and do not perceive colors until a few months after birth. (Rods > Cones), survival trait; babies hard-wired to prefer human faces

Hearing

Well-developed at birth. Babies are able to recognize their mother's voice within 2-3 days after birth. Hearing tests are done b4 hospital discharge to test for deafness

Cognitive Development

Developing thinking and reasoning abilities.

Neonatal Reflexes

Involuntary movements that newborn babies exhibit, including the rooting reflex, sucking reflex, and moro reflex.

Rooting Reflex

The reflexive turning of the baby's head towards anything touching its cheek, as it seeks the breast for feeding.

Sucking Reflex

The reflexive sucking motion that babies use during nursing. In places with poor healthcare or premature births, babies may struggle to suck and require an IV for feeding.

Moro Reflex

The startle reflex in babies, characterized by a series of movements including extending the arms, fanning out the fingers, and arching the back.

Jean Piaget

A psychologist who created the theory of cognitive development and identified four stages of cognitive development.

Sensorimotor Stage

The first stage of cognitive development, from birth to 18 months, characterized by undeveloped language skills and a lack of object permanence.

Object Permanence

The understanding or awareness that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. This concept is lacking in the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development.

Pre-Operational Stage

The second stage of cognitive development, from 1½ to 7 years old, characterized by egocentric thought and a lack of conservation.

Egocentric Thought

The belief that everyone shares the same perspective as oneself. For example, a child may hold up a picture to show someone on the phone, assuming they can see it.

Lack of Conservation

The inability to understand that certain properties of objects remain the same even if their shape or appearance changes. For example, a child may not understand that two balls of clay, one flattened and one rolled up, still contain the same amount of clay.

Concrete Stage

The third stage of cognitive development, from 7 to 11 years old, characterized by logical thinking.

Formal-Operational Stage

The fourth stage of cognitive development, characterized by abstract thinking.