Principles of Growth and Development in the Child (0-18 Years)

Practice flashcards covering definitions, principles, stages, and theories of child growth and development from birth to 18 years.

Growth

An increase in physical size including height, weight, head circumference, and body size, which is quantitative, measurable, and observable.

Development

The progressive acquisition of skills and functions including motor, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development; it is qualitative, functional, and continuous.

Maturation

The biological unfolding of abilities that is genetically determined, occurring in a predictable sequence throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, and biological types.

Personality

A unique pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that is influenced by genetics, environment, and experiences.

Cephalocaudal development

A directional pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head to the tail.

Proximodistal development

A directional pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the center of the body towards the periphery.

Neonate

The division of childhood spanning from birth to $28$ days.

Infant

The division of childhood spanning from $29$ days to $1$ year.

Toddler

The division of childhood spanning from $1$ to $3$ years.

Preschool

The division of childhood spanning from $3$ to $5$ years.

School Age

The division of childhood spanning from $5$ to $12$ years.

Adolescent

The division of childhood spanning from $12$ to $18$ years.

Developmental tasks

Skills or growth responsibilities for a particular time in an individual’s life, the achievement of which provides a foundation for accomplishing future tasks.

Oral Stage (Freud)

The psychosexual stage from birth to $1$ year where pleasure is derived from oral stimulation such as tasting and sucking.

Anal Stage (Freud)

The psychosexual stage from $15$ months to $3$ years focused on controlling bladder and bowels (eliminating or retaining feces).

Phallic Stage (Freud)

The psychosexual stage from $3$ to $6$ years where the primary focus is on genitals and differences between males and females.

Latency Stage (Freud)

The psychosexual stage from $6$ years to puberty where sexual desires are pushed to the background while focusing on intellectual and social pursuits.

Genital Stage (Freud)

The psychosexual stage from puberty through adulthood where sexual desires are renewed and the individual seeks relationships with others.

Trust versus Mistrust (Erikson)

The psychosocial stage from birth to $1$ year ($0$ to $18$ months) where children develop trust when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection.

Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt (Erikson)

The psychosocial stage from $1$ to $3$ years where children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and independence.

Initiative versus Guilt (Erikson)

The psychosocial stage from $3$ to $6$ years where children begin asserting control and power over the environment through exploration and play.

Industry versus Inferiority (Erikson)

The psychosocial stage from $6$ to $12$ years where children must cope with new social and academic demands to develop a sense of competence.

Identity versus Role Confusion (Erikson)

The psychosocial stage from $12$ to $19$ years where teens develop a sense of self and personal identity.

Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget)

The cognitive stage from birth to $2$ years where the world is experienced through senses and actions, leading to the development of object permanence.

Object permanence

The understanding that even if something is out of sight, it still exists; developed during Piaget's sensorimotor stage.

Preoperational Stage (Piaget)

The cognitive stage from $2$ to $7$ years ($2$ to $6$ years in charts) characterized by egocentrism, pretend play, and use of words/images to represent things.

Egocentrism

The inability to take the perspective of others, prominent during Piaget's preoperational stage.

Concrete operational Stage (Piaget)

The cognitive stage from $7$ to $11$ years where children understand concrete events, analogies, mathematical transformations, and the concept of conservation.

Conservation

The understanding that although something changes in shape, size, or distance, it remains the same amount.

Formal operational Stage (Piaget)

The cognitive stage from $12$ to $18$ years ($12+$) characterized by utilizing abstract reasoning and moral reasoning.

Solitary Play

A type of play where the child, typically an infant, plays alone.

Parallel Play

A type of play characterized by toddlers playing side by side but not together.

Associative Play

A type of play common in preschool group activities where children interact but without formal organization.

Cooperative Play

An organized type of play typical of team sports where children work together toward a common goal.