Child Development: Growth, Skills, and Parenting Styles

Physical Growth (Ages 3 to 6)

Significant growth in height and weight. At age 6, children weigh 40-50 pounds and are about 3½ feet tall.

Obesity Statistics (Early Childhood)

Varies by age, ethnicity, and gender, with higher rates among non-Hispanic Black girls and Hispanic boys.

Myelination (Early Childhood)

The process in the brain that speeds up communication between neurons.

Frontal Lobe Development (Early Childhood)

Maturation of the brain region crucial for decision-making and impulse control.

Emotional Growth (Early Childhood)

Improvement in emotional regulation (reducing tantrums) and enhanced ability to express emotions.

Motor Skills Development (By Age 2)

Abilities include running, climbing, and self-feeding.

Motor Skills Development (Ages 3-5)

Improved ball skills, jumping, tricycle riding, and self-care tasks like brushing teeth and dressing.

Motor Skills Development (By Age 6)

Can ride a bicycle, write simple words, and tie shoes.

Primary Prevention

Actions taken to prevent the occurrence of a problem or condition before it happens, promoting general health and well-being.

Examples of Primary Prevention (Child Development)

Vaccination programs, nutrition education, parenting classes, early childhood education programs, safety measures (car seats, helmets).

Secondary Prevention

Targets early identification and intervention to reduce the impact of a problem in its early stages, aiming to minimize severity and prevent complications.

Examples of Secondary Prevention (Child Development)

Developmental screenings, behavioral therapy for early signs, vision or hearing tests, early intervention services (speech, occupational therapy).

Tertiary Prevention

Focuses on managing diagnosed conditions, reducing their impact, and promoting recovery to improve quality of life and prevent further deterioration.

Examples of Tertiary Prevention (Child Development)

Specialized therapy/medical treatments for diagnosed disorders, educational support for disabilities, chronic illness management, rehabilitation programs.

Child Maltreatment

Intentional harm or avoidable endangerment to anyone under the age of 18.

Child Abuse

Deliberate actions that harm a child's physical, emotional, or sexual well-being.

Child Neglect

Failure to meet a child's basic physical, educational, or emotional needs.

Centration

Focusing on one aspect of a situation while ignoring others (e.g., focusing only on the height of a glass).

Egocentrism

The inability to understand perspectives other than one's own (e.g., assuming everyone sees what they see).

Focus on Appearance

Ignoring other attributes and focusing only on visible features (e.g., believing someone in a costume is a real character).

Static Reasoning

The belief that nothing changes over time (e.g., thinking parents have always been the same age).

Piaget (Cognitive Development)

Believed children actively construct knowledge through stages, emphasizing individual exploration and independent thinking.

Vygotsky (Cognitive Development)

Stressed social interactions and cultural context as key influences on cognitive development, introducing the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The range of tasks a learner can accomplish with the guidance of a more skilled partner.

Language Learning (Ages 2-6): Vocabulary Growth

Increases from about 1,000 words at age 3 to 2,500-3,000 words by age 6.

Language Learning (Ages 2-6): Grammar Development

Children begin using complex sentences and mastering grammar rules around ages 3-4.

Language Learning (Ages 2-6): Pronunciation

Speech becomes more understandable around ages 4-5.

Language Learning (Ages 2-6): Social Language Use

Learning to take turns in conversation and use polite forms of speech.

Language Learning (Ages 2-6): Private Speech

Self-talk used by children to guide their thinking.

Theory of Mind (Early Childhood)

Understanding that others have their own thoughts, feelings, and perspectives.

Language Milestones (Ages 2-3)

Use simple two-to-three-word sentences; experience a vocabulary explosion.

Language Milestones (Ages 3-4)

Begin using more complex sentences and grasping grammar rules.

Language Milestones (Ages 4-5)

Show better pronunciation, deeper conversation skills, and understanding of social cues.

Language Milestones (Ages 5-6)

Demonstrate near-adult grammar, engage in fluent conversations, and understand abstract concepts.

Emilia Reggio Approach

Child-centered, project-based learning where children are active participants and the environment is a key teacher.

Waldorf Education

Holistic approach emphasizing imagination, creativity, and emotional growth through art, music, and practical activities.

Montessori Method

Self-directed, hands-on learning in a prepared environment that promotes independence and sensory exploration.

Self-Concept (Early Childhood)

How children perceive themselves, formed through interactions and experiences.

Externalizing Problems (Early Childhood)

Behaviors directed outward, such as aggression or impulsivity.

Internalizing Problems (Early Childhood)

Issues directed inward, such as anxiety or depression.

Empathy (Early Childhood)

The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Antipathy (Early Childhood)

A strong feeling of dislike or aversion.

Authoritarian Parenting

Strict, controlling style with little negotiation and often punitive discipline.

Permissive Parenting

Lenient style characterized by avoiding rules and discipline but often providing warmth.

Authoritative Parenting

Responsive and supportive style that sets clear standards while encouraging independence.

Neglectful/Uninvolved Parenting

Disengaged style providing minimal emotional support or supervision.