Early Childhood Development

Flashcards about Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood

A stage of development from age 3 through kindergarten.

Middle Childhood

The elementary school years.

Erikson's stages for Early Childhood

Initiative versus guilt (3 to 6 years). Children have the ability to work toward a goal but may feel inferior if they do not measure up.

Cephalocaudal Principle

A principle of physical growth.

Mass-to-Specific Principle

A principle of physical growth where physical skills move from gross to fine motor movements.

Fine Motor Skills

Physical skills involving small movements, especially of the hands and fingers.

Gross Motor Skills

Physical skills involving large body movements.

Stunting

Impairment of fine and gross motor skills due to lack of food or undernutrition.

Preoperational Thinking

Piaget's stage from 3 to 7 years marked by the ability to think in verbal symbols but with egocentric and perception-dominated thinking.

Conservation Tasks

Tasks used to determine if children understand that changing the shape of a substance does not change its amount.

Reversibility

The ability to mentally reverse an operation.

Centering

Focusing on one aspect of a situation while neglecting others.

Class Inclusion

The understanding that a general category can encompass several subordinate elements.

Identity Constancy

Understanding that people stay the same despite changes in appearance.

Animistic Thinking

The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities.

Artificialism

Conceptualization that natural phenomena are created by humans.

Concrete Operational Stage

A stage where thought is more adult-like and logical; can do logical operations, basic math, and understand reversibility.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The gap between a child’s ability to solve a problem on their own and their potential knowledge if taught by a more accomplished person.

Scaffolding

The process of teaching new skills by entering the ZPD and tailoring efforts to the person’s competence level.

Semantics

Understanding word meanings.

Syntax

The system of grammatical rules in a particular language.

Overregularization

Applying regular grammatical rules to irregular words.

Over/Underextensions

Applying verbal labels too broadly/narrowly.

Theory of Mind

The understanding that other people have different beliefs and perspectives from one's own; emerges about age 4-5.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

Defined by differences in theory of mind, social and conversational deficits, and repetitive, restricted behavior patterns.

Exercise Play

Running and chasing behavior that exercises physical skills.

Rough-and-Tumble Play

Excited shoving and wrestling.

Collaborative Pretend Play

Fantasizing together with other children; starts around age 4.

Gender Schema Theory

Cognitive theory about gender-stereotyped play.

Gender-Segregated Play

Play that is separated by gender -- girls and boys choose to play with same-gender peers.