An in-depth and comprehensive summary of chapter 4.
These notes are composed using the study guide as well as the scope that was given for the test.
These notes allow for a detailed understanding and deep understanding.
Important concepts are written in colour to make it even easier to study from.
...
Physical proportions = Start to resemble a young child.
Muscle & bone growth = Many of the changes in the child’s body are caused by muscle and
bone growth. It can be promoted by activities such as running, jumping, handling of object.
Teeth = Baby teeth are replaced by the end of the preschool years.
Brain Development = At the age of 3, the brain is already 75% of the adult brain weight and by
age 5 it is approximately 90%.
-The frontal lobes develop rapidly,
-Language skills expand.
-Alertness, consciousness, balance and motor control are also enhanced.
-The possibility of plasticity is still high. (One area of the brain taking over the function of
another area due to damage)
Perceptual Development = Rapid improvement in the ability to distinguish detail.
-Figure-ground perception improves rapidly between 4 & 6. (Object on which the focus
is on and the rest of the perceptual field.
-Able to distinguish between different letters by 6.
-Consistently label colours correctly at age 4.
-Young children tend to be farsighted as the eyeball hasn’t fully developed yet.
-Auditory acuity takes place at around 2/3 years old. (Able to hear soft sounds as well as
adults do)
-Ability to distinguish between sounds of different intensities is nearly as good as that of
adults at age 5.
Motor Development = There are 3 kinds of motor skills that are important during preschool
years.
, -Gross Motor Skills: Involves the use of large muscles (running, climbing, jumping, riding
a bike, etc.)
-They enjoy such activities and will repeat them over and over (high activity
levels)
-Fine Motor Skills: Use of small muscles in the hands and fingers (writing, cutting with
scissors, painting, etc.)
-Develops slower than gross motor skills.
-Bilateral Coordination: The coordination of the right and left halves of the body (hold
pencil in one hand and the paper with the other)
-Hand preference is clear by age 5.
INFLUENCES ON PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:
A. Hereditary & Hormones:
-Physical size and growth rate are related to those of their parents.
-Genes play a role in hormone release.
-The pituitary gland = Releases 2 hormones that influence growth.
-The growth hormone (GH) = necessary for the development of body tissue.
-Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) = Releases thyroxin which is necessary for
the normal development of the nerve cells for the brain and for GH to have it’s
full impact.
, B. Nutrition:
-Nutrition is optimal to physical and psychological growth.
-Malnutrition = A lowered resistance to infection & death (Not eating the right foods)
-Undernourishment = Impair cognitive functions (Not eating enough food)
-Obesity = Excessive body fat.
-Physical consequences = gastrointestinal / endocrine / neurological
-Psychological consequences = low self esteem / lack of confidence / depression.
C. Emotional Well-Being:
-Environmental factors also influence the physical growth of the child.
-Such as divorce of the parents, marital conflict in the home, poverty, parent’s unemployment.
-The resulting stress will have an effect on the child.
-Stress may influence the functioning of the pituitary gland.
-Stress influences the digestion process and has an effect on the secretion of digestive
juices.
-Stress influences the immune system.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT & THE MEDIA:
Criticisms of children’s TV watching:
Displaced-Time View: It takes time away from other activities that are more beneficial.
Passivity View: Habitual inactivity may result.
Shallow- Information Processing: Quick, short segments lead to shorter attention span/
focus.
Visual-Iconic View: Promotes visual processing instead of verbal processing which can
lead to a lowered ability to imagine.
Research:
-What children watch is more important than what they watch.
-Educational programs can actually be very good for children.
-Other media (PlayStation/YouTube) has the same effects as TV.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jamm. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.23. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
