Chapter 4 - Physical development in infancy. It is very important for infants to get a healthy start. When they do, their fi rst two years of life are likely to be a time of amazing development. In this chapter, we focus on the biological domain and the infant’s physical development, exploring physical growth, motor development, and sensory and perceptual development. | Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Life-Span Development Thirteenth Edition Patterns of Growth: Cephalocaudal Pattern: sequence in which the earliest growth always occurs from the top downward Proximodistal Pattern: sequence in which growth starts in the center of the body and moves toward the extremities ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Height and Weight Average North American newborn is 20 inches long and 7 ½ pounds At 2 years of age, infants weigh 26 to 32 pounds and are half their adult height. ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: Contains approximately 100 billion neurons at birth Extensive brain development continues after birth, through infancy, and later Head should be protected Shaken Baby Syndrome: brain swelling and hemorrhaging from child abuse trauma ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: The | Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Life-Span Development Thirteenth Edition Patterns of Growth: Cephalocaudal Pattern: sequence in which the earliest growth always occurs from the top downward Proximodistal Pattern: sequence in which growth starts in the center of the body and moves toward the extremities ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Height and Weight Average North American newborn is 20 inches long and 7 ½ pounds At 2 years of age, infants weigh 26 to 32 pounds and are half their adult height. ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: Contains approximately 100 billion neurons at birth Extensive brain development continues after birth, through infancy, and later Head should be protected Shaken Baby Syndrome: brain swelling and hemorrhaging from child abuse trauma ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: The Brain’s Development At birth, the brain is 25% of its adult weight; at 2 years of age, it is 75% of its adult weight Mapping the Brain Frontal, Occipital, Temporal, and Parietal Lobes Lateralization Left-brained vs. Right-brained ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: Changes in Neurons Continued myelination Greater connectivity and new neural pathways Changes in Regions of the Brain Dramatic “blooming and pruning” of synapses in the visual, auditory, and prefrontal cortex ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Changes in regions of the brain: “Blooming and pruning” of synapses varies by brain region Pace of myelination varies as well ©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Brain: Early Experience and the Brain Depressed brain activity has been found in children who grow up
