Early Childhood

Growth and Nutrition in Early Childhood

Children aged 2-6 grow about 3 inches and gain 4-5 pounds per year.

Obesity in Early Childhood

1 in 5 American children between ages 2 and 5 are overweight or obese.

Myelination

The development of myelin in the brain, which continues into early childhood.

Synaptic Pruning

The loss of unused synapses, making neural processes more efficient.

Egocentrism

The tendency of young children to see the world only from their own perspective.

Animism

The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities.

Centration

Focusing on one characteristic of a situation while ignoring others.

Conservation

Understanding that changing an object's appearance does not change its basic properties.

Theory of Mind

Understanding that others have beliefs, desires, emotions, and intentions different from one's own.

Marshmallow Test

A test to assess a child's ability for delayed gratification.

Zone of Proximal Development

The range of material that a child can learn with proper support.

Scaffolding

Providing necessary assistance to support a child in learning a new skill.

Looking-glass Self

The concept that we develop our self-concept based on how we think others perceive us.

Self-control

The ability to inhibit responses and delay gratification.

Oedipus Complex

A child's attraction to the opposite-sex parent in Freudian theory.

Electra Complex

A girl's sense of competition with her mother for her father's attention.

Family Life

Different parenting styles influence child development significantly.

Authoritarian Parenting

A strict parenting style where obedience is expected without explanation.

Permissive Parenting

A parenting style where parents are more of a friend than a disciplinary figure.

Authoritative Parenting

A balanced approach, combining strictness with affection and negotiation.

Negative Punishment

Removing a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Toxic Stress

Chronic stress that exceeds a child's ability to cope, leading to negative outcomes.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events in childhood that have long-lasting effects on a child's mental health.

Fast-mapping

The process by which children rapidly learn new words by connecting them to existing concepts.

Delayed Gratification

The ability to wait for a preferred reward rather than taking a lesser reward immediately.

Vygotsky's Theory

Emphasizes the role of social interaction in cognitive development.

Freud's Anal Stage

Developmental stage where pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder control.

Imaginative Play

Play that involves creativity and fantasy, important for social and emotional development.

Gender Stereotyping

Overgeneralizing about the traits and behaviors expected of men and women.

Cognitive Development Limitations

Includes egocentrism, animism, centration, and conservation errors.