Child Growth and Development Chapter 9 Study Guide

Both a newborn and a six-month-old may kick their covers off if they feel warm. How is this response different for these two babies?

For the newborn, it's a reflex, and for the 6 month old, it's a learned response.

What are concepts?

General categories of objects and information.

What are three ways that play benefits babies?

Helps them learn about their environment (stimulates the senses), strengthens their muscles, and refines motor skills.

How does talking to infants benefit them?

Helps them learn about their environment, stimulates brain development (through the senses), and helps them feel secure.

How can learning about average child development help parents and other caregivers encourage learning?

It helps you set realistic goals and expectations, and it helps you encourage age-appropriate learning.

What are the 3 stages that children ages one to three go through in beginning to learn words and learn concepts?

1). Labels are for whole objects, not parts (Example: A dog is a dog no matter what part is pointed to). 2). Labels apply to the group, not to the individual objects in the group (Example: Any four legged creature may be viewed as a dog). 3). An object can have only one label (Example: use pronouns and may realize that "she" and "mommy" mean the same thing).

What is the average age range for these speech milestones? 1); Puts two words together 2). Voices excitement and displeasure 3). Talks about activities 4). Says one or two words 5). Tells stories

1); Puts two words together - 1-2 years 2). Voices excitement and displeasure - 4-6 months 3). Talks about activities - 3-4 years 4). Says one or two words - 7 months - 1 year 5). Tells stories - 4-5 years

How do babies develop attention span in their first year?

A baby enjoys playing with a new object longer than a familiar object. Eventually, they can enjoy toys for a longer period of time.

What is an example of a toy that is good for a twelve-month-old but not for a four-month-old? Why is this toy suitable for one age but not the other?

A push motor or a ride-on toy because the 12 month old can walk; the 4 month old cannot, so the 4 month old is not developmentally ready for the toy.

What is the formal operations period?

Age: 11 to adult Capable of abstract thinking.

What is the pre-operational period?

Age: 2 to 7 years Think in terms of their own activities and what they think at the moment.

What is the concrete operations period?

Age: 7 to 11 years Can think logically but still learn best through experience.

What is the sensorimotor period?

Age: Birth to 2 years Children learn through their senses and their own actions.

What is the role of neurotransmitters in communicating between neurons?

Axons release chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters cross the synapse (the gap) between neurons to bring the message to the dendrite of the other neuron.

Why is it important to provide stimulation for an infant's senses during the first period of development that Piaget identified?

Because, during this period (sensorimotor), infants are learning through their senses.

What can a caregiver do to help the development of a baby's brain pathways?

Make sure there is a lot of sensory input and repetition.

What are two examples of things a caregiver can do to build an infant's sense of security and trust?

Meet the infant's needs, including feeding, affection, rocking, or changing their diaper.

What is myelin? How does its presence in the brain affect learning?

Myelin is a waxy substance that connects axons. It speeds nerve function and makes it easier for a child to learn an activity.

What are neurons?

Nerve cells.

How is the brain organized with neural pathways?

Neurons link together becoming systems of nerve cells that control a particular action or thought.

Keesha drops her toy and it rolls behind a chair. She realizes that the toy must be somewhere, even though she can't see it, so she crawls to look for it. What concept has Keesha learned?

Object Permanence (even though you can't see something, it still exists).

How is perception related to learning?

Perception is the ability to learn through the information received through our senses.

After stacking blocks repeatedly, a baby becomes skilled at stacking them quickly. How does the development of connections in the brain explain this skill?

Repetition makes connections stronger as neurons work together to make a skill easier.

Why should caregivers avoid using baby talk?

So the baby learns how to pronounce the words right (they learn through imitation).

What type of thinking makes it possible for children to eventually learn to read? At about what age do children develop this capability?

Symbolic thinking (associating something with a symbol). It starts around 18 to 24 months. *learn that letters have sound and numbers have values.

Newborns learn about the world through their senses. What part of the brain receives this sensory information?

The cerebrum receives this.

What part of the cerebrum allows more complex learning?

The cortex.

What are neural pathways? What causes them to develop?

The links between neurons that are developed by stimulation and allow you to control body functions and learn. Responses to experiences allow them to develop.

According to Piaget, how do children progress though the stages of intellectual development?

There are 4 stages and children will progress through these stages in the same order but at their own pace.

Why is childproofing the home better for intellectual development than keeping crawling or walking babies in playpens?

They are able to explore more, which will allow them to learn more.

How do babies start to develop associations during their first year?

They associate the caregiver with taking care of them (link the problem to the solution).

How do babies communicate before they can use words?

They can babble, coo, or giggle. They also cry, make faces, or use gestures.

What role do axons and dendrites play in the brain?

They connect the neurons and act as transmitters (they are the pathways).

How does responding to a child's cries help the child's intellectual abilities develop?

They learn consistency and patterns when their cries are consistently answered.

How do babies develop cause and effect during their first year?

They might drop something that causes it to fall and see how many times the caregiver will pick it up.

How do babies start to develop memory during their first year?

They start to remember peoples' faces and voices.