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DISTINCTION FOR PYC4805 CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXAM 2021, answers.
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
DISTINCTION FOR PYC4805 CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXAM 2021, answers.
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Student number: 55883311Karmin Krishna Munsamy.
Oct/Nov 2021.
,CHILD DEVELOPMENT
SECTION A
QUESTION A1
Evaluate the potential threats that occur during a sensitive period in human development.
Consider how these may impact the various competencies of a new-born and infant. Refer
to relevant research findings to validate your discussion.
We all think about the meaning of a sensitive period, this basically refers to the idea that
environmental stimuli have a higher impact on the developing organism at various stages of
development. Sensitive phases are stages in a child's psychological development. This is a
brief window of opportunity. During the delicate periods, the infants or child possesses
extraordinary abilities. The child is capable of enormous accomplishments and significant
learning, such as language and movement. However, over a period of time, these abilities
fade away. Children go through phases in which they display psychic abilities and
possibilities, which then fade away.
Prenatal development
The prenatal period is also regarded as a crucial step in the development of a child. Prenatal
development is a period of rapid change that aids in the formation of future psychological
development. The brain grows throughout pregnancy, but it will change over time in the early
years of childhood. This basically means that it is the duration of the pregnancy. The prenatal
development process is divided into three stages. The germinal stage lasts for the first two
weeks following conception, the embryonic stage lasts for the third through eighth weeks,
and the fatal stage lasts for the ninth week till birth.
Effects
Experience allows the individual to assimilate information in an adaptive way during critical
moments. Such sensitive periods are referred to as key periods when experience offers
knowledge that is needed for normal growth and permanently impacts performance.
, A child's brain structure is altered during a sensitive period, leading some patterns of
connection to become extremely robust and causes an energy outburst. The structure
formation that happens after the conclusion of a sensitive phase, which is common, it alters
connection patterns while keeping the limitations in place.
We acquire a better grasp of the crucial role that experience plays in influencing the
neurodevelopment and behaviour by analysing sensitive periods at that level, as well as the
link between development and behaviours.
The notion of a critical/sensitive phase may be illustrated using the example of language
development. Despite the fact that language development has long been a source of
controversy among psychologists, there is widespread agreement that language learning has a
significant biological foundation. The concept of a crucial time for language learning was
introduced in the 1900s. It was argued that the time period between infancy and puberty was
crucial for language acquisition since, as we all know, this is when infants learn and pick up
on cues the most. Because of the significant maturational changes in the brain that occur
throughout puberty, this essential phase was considered to terminate at this time. Examples of
these instances would be when a child does not have access to proper social experience or
interactions. Within the South African context, it could mean that it would be more difficult
for an underprivileged child to learn a certain language. In South Africa children are also
influenced by the many different languages they learn, this means they learn a certain langage
at a slow pace.
Threats from the outside
Teratogens. Any substance that produces an anomaly in a fetus after exposure during
pregnancy is referred to as a teratogen. Teratogens are typically discovered after a rise in the
incidence of a specific birth abnormality. For instance certain medicine in the 1900's was
used to treat morning sickness caused deformity in which the hands and feet are linked to
shortened limbs as a result of the fetus's exposure during this early development stage. In
todays day and age, with the many types of new medication, mothers and babies might be at a
higher risk. Teratogens can be found in different places. The type of dose, duration, and time
of exposure all have an effect. The most vulnerable period of pregnancy is the first half.
Alcohol and smoking are two of the most common avoidable causes of birth abnormalities
and developmental disorders. In South Africa, drug consumption is a major factor, drug
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