CD: Chapter 8

what happens during growth?

new epiphyses emerge as cartilage hardens into bone

how does growth compare in childhood than infancy?

• slower in early childhood compared to infancy,

• yearly gains height and weight

• During 2-5 years old, the average child grows about 2.5 in. each year and gains 4–5 lbs.

• children lose some chubbiness during infancy

Body mass index (BMI)

body fat calculated as a ratio of weight to height.

How does a child’s body chnage during growth?

• the child’s body stretches out

• proportion of body fat and muscles change

During growth how does children’s motor skills develop?

• Proportional changes = increase of physical activity (center of gravity changes)

• gross motor skill changes (proximodistal) = moves from the center of the body to outward

• as fine motor skills continue to develop, their neurons myelinate in the proximodistal direction, from the torso, outward.

Fine Motor Skills

the ability to use the small muscles in your hands and wrists to make precise movements

Gross motor skills

movements that involve the large muscles of the body, resulting in large, whole-body movements

ex. walking, running, and jumping

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)

• a condition that delays reaching motor milestones

• can interfere with daily living, academic performance & social development

• affects school aged children, more common in boys and children born prematurely

Body awareness

conscious knowledge of one’s own body parts and movements

Proprioception

the sense of knowing where the parts of your body are located in space.

Body image

a person’s subjective perceptions and feelings about their physical characteristics.

When does development about body image begins?

• begins during early childhood

• children internalize the models they see in their culture (ex. Barbie dolls).

How do children react to seeing bodily changes?

• Young children are often curious about their own body parts and those of adults and other children around them.

How does the brain develop during growth?

• brain has mostly finished wiring itself for basic functions like seeing and hearing

• prefrontal cortex (associated with judgment) is just reaching its peak.

How does the brain change during development?

• brain has mostly finished wiring itself for basic functions like seeing and hearing.

• Brain mass increases by 25% between early childhood and adolescence

• rapid myelination of the corpus callosum = enables better interhemispheric communication

• Language and handedness is lateralized to the left hemisphere in right-handed people, or not strongly lateralized in left-handed people.

Neurodiversity

• perspective that neurological differences, such as autism spectrum disorders are to be respected like any other human variation.

• people have their own strengths, abilities and talents even with autism

What are the benefits of learning healthy eating habits?

Establishes healthy eating patterns

Food insecurity

when food is often scarce or unavailable

What are the consequences of food insecurity?

• causes people to overeat when they do have access to food

• Higher rates of illness and behavioral and emotional problems; lower rates of educational and academic achievement

How does Oral health go for children?

• •Primary teeth at 6 months.

• By 2–3 years they understand brushing your teeth.

• getting ready to lose baby teeth around 6 years old

How does food allergies develop for children?

• Most common food allergies are; milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy & wheat

• Children may outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and soy (less likely to outgrow allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish)

How much physical activity should children have?

children under age five need 60 min (1hr) of activity per day

How much sleep should children be getting?

3-5 years need 11-13 hours of sleep

Benefits of stable sleep

• Increased cognitive functioning

• Decreased being difficult (aggression)

• nightmares and occasional bed wetting are common.

Sleep terror

child shows extreme fear while sleeping, although they may seem to be awake.

How to prevent illness in children?

• Immunizations and Vaccines

• Any temperature over 103° requires immediate medical attention

• washing hands thoroughly

• using alcohol-based hand gel

• reminding children not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth

• to cough/sneeze into their elbow

Chronic illnesses

diseases that are long lasting and in most cases cannot be completely cured

(ex, certain heart problems, spina bifida, sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer).

What types of health threats can children in early childhood face?

• they are susceptible to environmental toxins (ex. asbestos, household chemicals, lead, mercury, pesticides, secondhand smoke)

• Pesticides

• Lead

• Asthma

• Childhood sunburns

• skin cancer

Child maltreatment

any act or failure to act which results in death or imminent risk of serious harm

Physical abuse

physical acts that caused or could have caused physical injury to a child.

Sexual abuse

the involvement of a child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator.

Neglect

failure by a caregiver to provide needed, age-appropriate care although financially able to do so

Mandatory reporters

• individuals who work with children and who are required by law to report suspicions of child maltreatment to authorities

• (ex. health-care providers, teachers, child care providers, social workers, police officers, and clergy—identity of reporter is not disclosed to the family)

• failure to report results in fine to imprisonment

How is child maltreatment a threat to young children?

• Highest rates of maltreatments are related to neglect (74.9%).

• Emotional and psychological abuse are the most difficult to substantiate (bullying, coercive control, shunning, isolation).

Who is more at risk for being reported for neglect?

• Low income families

• Fewer financial resources = may result in living conditions which are associated with neglect.

• Substance abuse problems.

• More likely low-income families are already in contact with state agencies (e.g., welfare, probation services) who are mandatory reporters.

• Racial and socioeconomic bias against low-income families may also increase the likelihood

What are the Consequences of Child Maltreatment?

• can affect brain development (ex. language, executive functioning, academic performance).

• Increased cortisol levels and chronic health conditions.

• Emotional consequences (ex. hypervigilance, anxiety, depression)