human growth and development 2025-02-27T19:51:36

Physical Development

Changes in body size, proportions, and motor capabilities that occur throughout the lifespan.

Cognitive Development

The process of acquiring intelligence and increasingly advanced thought and problem-solving ability from childhood to adulthood.

Language Development

The process by which children acquire the ability to perceive and comprehend language as well as to produce and use words to communicate.

Growth Rate (Ages 3-5)

Children typically add approximately 2.5 inches in height and 5 to 10 pounds in weight each year during early childhood.

Interindividual Variability

Differences in growth and development rates among children, influenced by factors such as genetics and nutrition.

Human Growth Hormone

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that is essential for growth; deficiencies may stunt growth in children.

Myelination

The process of coating neural axons with a fatty myelin sheath, which increases the speed and efficiency of information transmission in the nervous system.

Frontal Lobes

Regions of the brain responsible for higher-order functions such as planning, reasoning, and impulse control; these areas undergo significant development during early childhood.

Gross Motor Skills

The abilities associated with using large muscle groups to perform tasks such as walking, running, and jumping.

Fine Motor Skills

The abilities associated with using smaller muscle groups for tasks that require dexterity, such as drawing or writing.

Perceptual Development

The process through which children learn to interpret sensory information and recognize visual boundaries, objects, and letters.

Sleep and Memory Consolidation

The process that occurs during sleep whereby the brain organizes and stores memories, facilitating learning.

Nutrition in Early Childhood

The importance of a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nutrients to support healthy growth and development.

Theory of Mind

The ability to understand that others have thoughts, beliefs, and desires that are different from one's own.

Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development

The range of tasks that a child can perform with guidance and assistance but not yet independently.

Scaffolding

Support given to a child that is tailored to their needs and gradually removed as the child becomes more competent.

Cognitive Inhibition

The ability to inhibit or prevent a strong tendency to respond; a key executive function that develops in early childhood.

Private Speech

The self-directed speech that children use to guide their actions and problem-solving processes, often vocalized out loud.

Fast Mapping

The process by which children quickly learn the connection between a new word and its meaning after only a brief encounter.

Pragmatics

The practical use of language, including the rules for appropriate speech in different social contexts.