Chapter 5: Parenting Infants and Toddlers

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on parenting infants and toddlers.

Infants

Children from birth to 12 months of age.

Toddlers

Children from 1 to 3 years old.

Affectionate touch

Physical contact that conveys warmth and care, important for infant development.

Well-baby visits

Regular medical appointments for infants to monitor their health and development.

Daily routines

Consistent schedules and patterns of activities established for infants.

Colic infants

Infants who experience prolonged, intense, and unexplained crying.

Period of Purple Crying

A developmental phase in infancy characterized by an increase in crying, common in early months.

Neurons

Basic nerve cells that transmit information in the brain and nervous system.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons in the brain.

Synaptogenesis

The rapid formation of new synaptic connections between neurons, especially during infancy.

Dendrites

Branching extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

Synaptic pruning

The process of eliminating unused or less efficient synaptic connections to improve brain efficiency.

Myelination

The formation of a myelin sheath around nerve fibers, which speeds up the transmission of neural impulses.

Demyelination

The process of the myelin sheath breaking down or being lost.

Limbic system

A group of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and learning.

Neuroplasticity of parental brains

The ability of a parent's brain to change and adapt in response to the experiences of parenting.

Attachment

A deep and enduring emotional bond that forms between an infant and their primary caregiver.

Four phases of attachment

A recognized sequence in the development of an infant's attachment to a caregiver.

Parental warmth

A parenting style characterized by affection, support, and responsiveness to a child's needs.

Parental separation anxiety

Feelings of discomfort or worry experienced by parents when separated from their child.

Child effect

The influence a child's temperament and behavior have on the parents and parenting style.

Infant temperament

Innate behavioral style and characteristic way an infant responds to the world.

Goodness of fit

The compatibility between a child's temperament and the demands and expectations of their environment, especially their parents.

Bidirectional effects of temperament

The mutual influence where a child's temperament affects parenting, and parenting affects the child's temperament.

Constructive co-parenting

Parents working together effectively and supportively to raise a child, even if they are not together as a couple.

Intentional Socialization

Deliberate efforts by parents to teach children social norms, values, and behaviors.

Emotional socialization

The process by which children learn to understand, express, and regulate emotions according to cultural and social norms.

Bidirectional process of socialization

Socialization is a two-way street where children influence parents, and parents influence children.

Parental child-rearing goals

Specific objectives and values that parents aim to instill in their children during their development.

Discipline

The process of teaching children self-control, appropriate behavior, and respect for rules.

Proactive or preemptive parenting

Parenting strategies focused on preventing misbehavior before it occurs through planning and preparation.

Psychological control

Disciplinary methods that attempt to manipulate a child's thoughts and emotions through guilt, shame, or withdrawal of love.

Power assertion by parents

Disciplinary methods that rely on the parent's superior power, such as commands, threats, or physical punishment.

Providing Structure

Creating an organized, predictable, and consistent environment for a child.

Screen time

The amount of time spent consuming media on electronic devices with a screen.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to monitor, evaluate, and modify emotional reactions to achieve desired goals.

Temper tantrums

Intense outbursts of anger or frustration, common in toddlers when they struggle with emotional regulation.

Self-regulation

The ability to control one's impulses, emotions, and behaviors in pursuit of long-term goals.

Modeling emotional regulation

Parents demonstrating healthy ways to manage and express emotions, serving as an example for their children.