CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
EXAM Q&A
Growth - Answer-Growth is defined as specific body changes and increases in the
child's size, proceeding from the head downward and from the center of the body
outward.
Development - Answer-typically refers to an increase in complexity, a change from
relatively simple to more complicated. Development usually involves a progression
along a continuous pathway on which the child acquires more refined knowledge,
behaviors, and skills. The sequence is basically the same for all children, however, the
rate varies.
False. Growth proceeds from the head downward and from the center of the body
outward. - Answer-True or False
Growth proceeds from the center of the body outward
True - Answer-True or False
At birth, the brain, heart, and spinal cord are fully functioning to support the infant.
False. As children grow, the arm and leg muscles develop, followed by the finger and
toe muscles. - Answer-True or False
The finger and toe muscles develop before the arm and leg muscles.
True - Answer-True or False
Children differ in their growth.
False. Children do not grow at perfectly steady rates throughout childhood. - Answer-
True or False
Children grow at perfectly steady rates.
1. Principle 1 - Developmental Sequence is Similar for All
• Children develop in relatively the same ways.
• There is a typical sequence of development that occurs as a child grows.
• While the sequence is similar, and the behaviors or skills emerge in the same order,
children can take more or less time with each behavior or skill.
• They can move forward, regress for a short time, then move forward again.
• Some children may skip a behavior or skill as they move forward.
,2. Principle 2 - Development Proceeds from General to Specific
• Development progresses from a beginning point moving in a forward direction.
• Just as growth of an infant proceeds from the top down and from the center of the
body to the limbs, development of behaviors and skills moves from general to specific.
• As children mature, their bodily changes occur in a sequential order and give children
new abilities.
• As the brain and nervous sy - Answer-Name and give an example of each of the five
basic principles of child growth and development.
Physical Development
Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
Language and Communication,
Social and Emotional Development
and Approaches to Learning.
Each area of development influences development in other areas. - Answer-What are
the five domains of development?.
Principal 5 - All Areas of Development are Interrelated - Answer-Identify the correct
principle that applies to that particular stage of development.
Pete and Al, both nearly five years old, are playing with the same puzzle. You watch as
Pete tells Al, "The first piece goes here." Al says, "We both have five pieces now." Even
though the activity lasts only a few minutes, you believe it is a good indicator of each
boy's current development.
Principle 3 - Development is Continuous - Answer-Identify the correct principle that
applies to that particular stage of development.
When LaShanda was two, you noted that she enjoyed solitary play and did not interact
with other children. By the age of two and a half, LaShanda liked to play next to another
child, but there was no interaction (parallel play). By the age of three, LaShanda
engaged routinely in associative play and could share common materials with another
child without interaction. By three and a half, she had made her first real friend and was
capable of true cooperative play.
Principle 4 - Development Proceeds at Different Rates - Answer-Identify the correct
principle that applies to that particular stage of development.
Tom and Tim are twins and want to do everything together. However, Tom rode his
tricycle with ease by his third birthday, but Tim was almost four before he could ride his
tricycle with confidence.
, Principle 1 - Developmental Sequence is Similar for All - Answer-Identify the correct
principle that applies to that particular stage of development.
In the Infant Care Center this fall, you noticed four-month-old Sara roll over; a few
weeks later, she began scooting. By December, six-month-old Raul had rolled over and
scooted. Last week, you noted that Renae—at the age of five months—had rolled over,
and you predict she will be scooting very soon.
Principle 2 - Development Proceeds from General to Specific - Answer-Identify the
correct principle that applies to that particular stage of development.
Three-month-old Sean loves to wave his arms in the air. As you watch him, you think
about the skills he will probably achieve next: first, he will grasp objects; then he will be
able to hold a crayon; and someday, he will be able to write with a pencil.
1. Care and the environment can support or hinder development.
2. The knowledgeable caregiver can support a child in learning new skills.
3. When a child is struggling with a new skill, timely intervention can help him/her
overcome a problem and "catch back up."
4. The knowledgeable caregiver can "detect" indicators of possible delays and can help
get the child the assistance he/she needs. - Answer-Why should child care
professionals learn about principles of child development?
theory - Answer-A _______ is a set of facts or principles analyzed in relation to one
another and used to explain phenomena. A phenomena is a fact or behavior that can be
observed.
1. Physical
2. Comfort and safety
3. Social
4. Self-esteem
5. Self-actualization - Answer-What are the five levels of Maslow's hierarchy?
The first level of need is the physical, followed by comfort and safety, social, self-
esteem and self-actualization.
Abraham Maslow - Answer-is known as the father of humanistic psychology. His theory
assumes that humans are more than the sum of their parts.
Self-esteem - Answer-select the level of Maslow's pyramid that indicates which level of
the pyramid the need satisfies.
The ability to cope and problem solve