Chapter 3: Physical and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

What is cephalocaudal development?

Head-to-toe development in prenatal stage, infants and children.

What is proximodistal development?

Center-to-extremities development in prenatal stage, infants and children.

What is mass-to-specific development?

The progression from gross motor skills to fine motor skills.

What is the average weight of a newborn in the U.S.?

7.5 pounds.

At what age does a baby's weight typically double?

By 5 months.

What is the typical height gain in the first year of life?

10-12 inches.

What is the significance of head circumference in infants?

It is a critical indicator of brain development.

What are the sleep patterns for newborns (0-3 months)?

16 hours daily, with 8-9 hours at night and 8 hours during the day.

What is the ABC method for sleep safety?

Alone, Back, Crib.

What is the primary source of nutrition for infants from birth to 6 months?

Human milk and/or formula only.

At what age do infants typically begin to use a pincer grasp?

Around 9 months.

What is neurogenesis?

The formation of new neurons in the brain.

What is synaptogenesis?

The rapid formation of neural connections in the brain.

What are survival reflexes in newborns?

Reflexes such as rooting, sucking, and grasping that are essential for survival.

What gross motor milestone is typically achieved by 10-12 months?

Cruising furniture and possibly taking first steps.

What fine motor skill is developed by 12-18 months?

Stacking blocks and feeding self with fingers.

What is dynamic systems theory in motor development?

The interaction between the individual, environment, and task affecting motor skills.

At what age does a baby typically develop near adult-level visual acuity?

By 7-12 months.

What is intermodal perception?

The integration of information from multiple senses.

What is the first sense to develop in infants?

Touch, which is the most developed sense at birth.

What taste preference do infants have at birth?

They prefer sweet tastes.

What is the typical sleep duration for a 12-24 month old?

13-13.5 hours daily, with 11 hours at night.

What is the role of pruning in brain development?

The elimination of unused neural connections to strengthen important pathways.

What is the typical height gain for a toddler in the second year?

4-5 inches.

What is the significance of the pincer grasp in infant development?

It allows infants to pick up small objects using their thumb and forefinger.

How does culture influence motor development in infants?

Cultural practices can affect the timing and nature of motor skill acquisition.

What visual ability do infants develop by 4-6 months?

Depth perception and full color vision.

What are the characteristics of the Concrete Operational Stage in Piaget's theory?

Logical thinking about concrete situations, understanding of conservation and reversibility, classification and seriation abilities, and less egocentric thinking (ages 7-11).

What cognitive abilities are developed during the Formal Operational Stage?

Abstract and hypothetical thinking, systematic problem solving, and scientific reasoning and deduction (ages 12 and up).

What is the primary focus of the Sensorimotor Stage?

Learning through senses and actions, progressing from reflexes to goal-directed behavior, and developing object permanence (birth to 2 years).

What are the key features of the Preoperational Stage?

Symbolic thinking and language development, egocentric thinking, intuitive reasoning, and inability to conserve (ages 2-7).

What is an example of a child's behavior that demonstrates the shift from action-based to symbolic thinking?

A 20-month-old uses real objects like blocks to build, while a 5-year-old pretends a block is a car.

What is implicit memory and when does it develop?

Implicit memory is procedural and non-conscious, present at birth, and includes motor skills and habits.

What is an example of implicit memory in infants?

A three-month-old learns that kicking moves her mobile and repeats the action without consciously remembering it.

What are the stages of recognition memory development in infants?

Recognition memory emerges at 2-3 months, basic recall abilities develop at 6-9 months, deferred imitation appears at 9-12 months, and early autobiographical memory begins at 18-24 months.

What is explicit memory and how does it develop?

Explicit memory is declarative and conscious, developing gradually during the first two years, including recognition and recall of specific information.

Provide an example of explicit memory in infants.

An eighteen-month-old retrieves a toy from a cabinet after seeing it hidden two hours earlier.

What is habituation in infants?

Getting used to something familiar, demonstrated when a baby loses interest in a toy after repeated exposure.

What is dishabituation?

Renewed interest when something changes, such as a baby showing interest in a new toy after losing interest in an old one.

What is the progression of language development in infants?

Crying and reflexive sounds (birth-2 months), cooing (2-4 months), babbling (4-6 months), canonical babbling (6-9 months), and variegated babbling with gestures (9-12 months).

What are the characteristics of the prelinguistic phase of language development?

Includes the emergence of first recognizable words (12-18 months) and holophrases, where single words express complete thoughts.

What is telegraphic speech and when does it emerge?

Telegraphic speech consists of two-word combinations that convey meaning without grammatical elements, emerging around 18-24 months.

What are the three main theories of language development?

Nativist Theory (Chomsky) posits an innate language acquisition device, Learning Theory (Skinner) emphasizes reinforcement and imitation, and Interactionist Theory combines biological readiness with environmental input.

How does caregiver interaction influence language development?

Responsive caregiving and child-directed speech enhance vocabulary development and communication skills.

What are the two types of bilingual development?

Simultaneous bilingualism (learning two languages from birth) and sequential bilingualism (learning a second language after the first).

What cognitive benefits are associated with bilingualism?

Enhanced executive function and metalinguistic awareness.

What are some ways to support development in infants aged 0-2 years?

Provide safe spaces for exploration, varied sensory experiences, responsive interactions, and consistent warm caregiving.

Who created the 4 stages of cognitive development?

Piaget

Who proposed psychosocial theory?

Erikson

Who proposed sociocultural theory?

Vygotsky

Who proposed the ecological systems model?

Bronfenbrenner