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EDUC 313 Chapter 3 & 4 (1)

Cheat Sheet: Physical and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

Chapter Overview

  • Covers aspects of both physical and cognitive development in infants and toddlers.

Basic Newborn States

  • Newborns exhibit various states that influence their behavior and awareness.

Sensory and Motor Development

  • Infants develop sensory and motor skills crucial for exploration and interaction.

Cognition

  • Cognitive development theories are critical to understanding infants' intellect.

The Expanding Brain

Cerebral Cortex

  • Outer layer of the brain facilitating perception, actions, and thoughts.

  • Significant increase in brain volume in the first four years; quadruples in size.

Brain Development

  • Neurons: Formed during fetal development; essential for brain function.

  • Axons/Dendrites: Axons send information, while dendrites receive it.

  • Synaptogenesis: Formation of synapses post-birth.

  • Pruning: Occurs around age 3 to optimize neural connections.

  • Myelination: Formation of myelin on axons for faster transmissions.

Brain Plasticity

  • Ability to adapt and reorganize, especially in early years.

  • Important for recovery from injuries but decreases with age.

Cognitive Development: Piaget's Theory

Stages of Development

  1. Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years): Learning through interaction.

    • Circular Reactions: Body-centered (1-4 months), outside world (4 months), experimentation (around 1 year).

    • Language development signals end of this stage.

Key Terms

  • Schemas: Mental frameworks.

  • Adaptation: Adjusting to new experiences.

    • Assimilation: Integrating new info with existing schemas.

    • Accommodation: Changing schemas for new info.

Critique of Piaget's Theory

  • Influential but may underestimate abilities in infancy.

Social Cognition in Infants

  • Understanding social interactions; begins around 5 months.

Attachment Theories (Bowlby)

  1. Preattachment Phase: Reflexive behaviors.

  2. Attachment in the Making: Preference for familiar caregivers (4-7 months).

  3. Clear-Cut Attachment: Separation anxiety starts (7-8 months).

  4. Working Model: Internal representation of attachment figures by age 3.

Key Concepts

  • Proximity-Seeking Behavior: Maintaining contact with caregivers.

  • Attachment Styles: Secure and insecure categories.

Impact of Attachment

  • Secure attachment enhances social competence; insecure attachment can have adverse effects.

Impact of Early Childhood Poverty

  • Chronic stress and food insecurity negatively influence development.

  • Interventions (e.g., Head Start) aim to improve outcomes but have limitations.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

  • Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy)

  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (toddlerhood)

Temperament-Socialization Fit

  • Recognize individual temperament to tailor parenting strategies.

    • Inhibited Toddlers: Greater exposure to social situations needed.

    • Exuberant Toddlers: Need guidance to balance adventurousness and conscience development.

Key Terms for Final Review

  • Secure Attachment

  • Anxious, Ambivalent, Avoidant, Disorganized Attachment

  • Synchrony

  • Oxytocin/Cortisol

  • Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt