L5 - Infancy Development Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from infancy development.

Infancy

The period of life between birth and the acquisition of language, approximately one to two years later.

Neonate

A newborn in the first month of life.

Neonatal period

The first 4 weeks of a child's life, characterized by rapid changes.

Cephalocaudal Pattern

The sequence in which the earliest growth always occurs at the top (the head) with physical growth and differentiation of features gradually working their way down from top to bottom.

Proximodistal Pattern

The sequence in which growth starts at the center of the body and moves toward the extremities.

Transient exuberance

Temporary dramatic growth of dendrites in the brain during the first several years.

Myelin

A coating of fatty tissues around the axon of the neuron that helps insulate the nerve cell and speed the rate of transmission of impulses.

Reflexes

Involuntary movements in response to stimulation.

Sucking reflex

Infants suck on objects that touch their lips automatically.

Rooting reflex

Involves turning toward any object that touches the cheek

Grasping reflex

The infant will tightly grasp any object placed in its palm.

Moro reflex

Occurs in response to a sudden, intense noise or movement where the newborn arches its back, throws back its head, and flings out its arms and legs.

Gross Motor Skills

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

Fine Motor Skills

More exact movements of the hands and fingers and include the ability to reach and grasp an object.

Palmer Grasp

Infants grasping with the whole hand.

Pincer Grip

Grasping with their thumb and forefinger.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

A condition that occurs when an infant stops breathing, usually during the night, and suddenly dies without an apparent cause.

Infantile marasmus

Starvation due to a lack of calories and protein.

Kwashiorkor

Severe protein deficiency leading to vital organs failing due to the deficiency.

Infantile amnesia

The inability to recall memories from the first few years of life.

Deferred imitation

The imitation of actions after a time delay.

Language

A system of communication that uses symbols in a regular way to create meaning.

Phoneme

The smallest unit of sound that makes a meaningful difference in a language.

Morpheme

A string of one or more phonemes that makes up the smallest units of meaning in a language.

Semantics

Refers to the set of rules we use to obtain meaning from morphemes.

Syntax

The set of rules of a language by which we construct sentences.

Pragmatics

The social side of language/how we communicate effectively and appropriately with others.

Holophrasic speech

These one word expressions are referred to as one word expressions.

Underextension

A child who learns that a word stands for an object may initially think that the word can be used only that particular object.

Telegraphic speech

Words are soon combined and 18 month old toddlers can express themselves further by using expressions.

Child-directed speech

A universal tendency and is known as exaggerating the vowel and consonant sounds, using a high-pitched voice, and delivering the phrase with great facial expression.

Language acquisition device or LAD

Suggests that infants are equipped with a neurological construct that makes infants ready for language.

Skinner and reinforcement

Suggests that language develops through the use of reinforcement.

Temperament

An inborn quality noticeable soon after birth.

Attachment

Desire for physical closeness with someone.