UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN

From Birth to Age 2

Terms to Know

Reflex Motor sequence Object permanence Deferred imitation Telegraphic speech Temperament Attachment Separation anxiety

Physical Development

Size and Shape Approximately 7 ½ pounds at birth, to 22 pounds

at 1 year. By 2 years, most children weigh 4x birth weight Avg. newborn measures 20 inches. By 2 years, most children measure 32 to 36

inches Boys are taller and heavier than girls. Boys reach half their adult height by 2 years old Girls will have passed their halfway mark by 1 or

2 inches.

Physical Development

Reflexes An automatic body

response to a stimulus

Sucking Helps the infant obtain

food for survival Rooting

Turn head toward anything that touches the face

Moro Aka “startle reflex” Flings legs and arms

outward and extends head

Palmar Grasp Touch the baby’s palms

and it will grip tightly. Grip is tight enough to lift

baby into sitting position

Babinski When stroking the sole of

the foot on outside from heel to toe, toes will fan out and foot twists in

Stepping / Walking When feet are held flat on

a surface, the infant will lift one foot after another into a stepping motion

Physical Development

Motor Sequence The order in

which a child is able to perform new movements

Each new movement builds on previous abilities

1. Head and trunk control

2. Rolling over 3. Sit upright 4. Gradually able to pull

themselves into sitting positions

5. Crawl6. Creep7. Stand with support 8. Walk with help of an

adult 9. Stand without support10. Walk with no help

Health and Safety

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) To reduce risk:

Place infants on their backs for sleep Provide a firm crib, covered by a sheet Keep soft materials, such as comforters,

pillows, and stuffed toys out of the crib Make sure the sleeping area is a comfortable

temperature to keep infants from becoming overheated

Failure to Thrive

Symptoms include lack of weight gain and height growth in comparison to other children of the same age

Planned causes Malnutrition by neglect

Unplanned causes Low birth weight Poverty Poor social interaction Improper feeding skills Disease (gastric reflux, cystic fibrosis, lead poisoning)

Cognitive Development

Birth to 3 months Vision is blurry at birth As vision improves,

infants show preferences for certain objects

From birth, infants will turn their head towards a sound

By 3 weeks, infants can distinguish between voice of parent and voice of a stranger

3 to 6 months Infants start to

learn they can touch, shake, and hit objects they see

Memory, foresight and self – awareness develop

New responses, such as cooing

Cognitive Development

6 to 9 months Object

permanence – objects continue to exist even if they cannot be seen

OP shows a developing memory

Learning communication by crying to call person

12 to 18 months Find new ways to

use toys (rolling, tossing, bouncing)

Cause and effect (hit water=ripples/splash)

Learn to say many new words

Cognitive Development

18 to 24 months Think before acting Actively exploring everything Do not realize the dangers in actions Deferred imitation – watching another

person’s behavior and then acting out that behavior

Telegraphic speech – short, 2 word sentences (ex: doggie bark, baby cry)

Social – Emotional Development After the 1st birthday, children take more

interest in other toddlers, however adults are still most important to children in this age group.

Temperament The quality and intensity of emotional reactions. Passivity – how actively involved a child is with

surroundings Irritability – tendency to feel distressed Activity patterns – levels of movement Each child has a different temperament and you

must adjust to the mood of each child.

Social – Emotional Development Attachment

The strong emotional connection that develops between people

Infants mainly become attached to the people who care for them (mother, father, siblings)

Quality of attachment depends on adults’ responses

Separation Anxiety – when a child protests because a familiar caregiver is leaving