Child Development - Chapter 5 (Physical Development & Health)

Cephalocaudal growth pattern

growth and development that occurs from the head down

"Cephalo"

"head"

"Caudal"

"tail"

Proximodistal Growth Pattern

center of body to extremities

Infancy

time of drastic growth in height and weight

Infancy Height

one inch per year in the first month

Infancy Weight

5-6 ounces per week during the first month, body weight doubles by 4 months and almost triples by a year

Early Childhood

preschool age to about 5 years old, diverse growth patters based on heredity and environmental factors

Middle and Late Childhood

age 6-11, involves slow, constant growth, 2-3 inches and 7 lbs per year, some gender differences

Adolescence

puberty, rapid physical maturation involving hormonal and bodily changes, precocious puberty

Timing of puberty

start age 10-13.5, end age 13-17

Menarche

a girl's first menstration

Early puberty is linked to

low socioeconomic status, maltreatment, family harshness, early substance use, sedentary lifestyles (e.g., obesity), stress.

Hormones

chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands and carried throughout the body by the bloodstream

Hypothalamus

monitors eating, drinking, and sex

Pituitary gland

controls growth, regulates other glands

Gonads

sex glands (males-testes; females-ovaries)

Androgens

male sex hormone, testosterone

Estrogens

female sex hormone, estradiol

Growth Spurt

starts 2 years earlier for girls (on average), age 9 for girls, age 11 for boys

Sexual Maturation in Males

increase in genital size, pubic hair, minor voice change, first ejaculation, body growth, armpit hair, facial hair.

"Spermarche"

first ejaculation

Sexual Maturation in Females

growth of breasts, pubic hair, armpit hair, growth in height, hips widen.

Body Image During Puberty

girls body image tends to decrease while boys increase

Early Maturing Boys

tend to perceive themselves more positively than late-maturing boys

Late Maturing Boys

tend to develop a more positive identity by age 30 than early-maturing boys

Early Maturing Girls

are more likely to smoke, drink, be depressed, have an eating disorder, engage in delinquency, more tumultuous relationships with parents, responses from older males, dropout of high school, marry younger.