Working with Young Children Chapter 5

prosocial behavior

Acts of kindness that benefit others; behaviors that demonstrate cooperation and helpfulness.

Baby sign language

Includes modified gestures of American Sign Language

preverbal gestures

Intentional signals a baby uses to influence other people in their environment

passivity

Relates to how actively involved a child is with his or her surroundings.

joint attention

When the infant attends to the same event or object as the caregiver.

separation anxiety

a child's difficulty in separating from parents, often occurring between 6 and 15 months of age.

reflex

an automatic body response to a stimulus. At birth, an infant's physical abilities are limited to reflexes.

object permanence

an understanding that objects continue to exist even if a person cannot see them.

motor sequence

order in which a child is able to perform new movements. Motor sequence depends on the development of the brain and nerves.

temperament

quality and intensity of children's emotional reactions to their environment, such as passivity, irritability, and activity patterns.

Irritability

tendency to feel distressed.

empathy

the ability to understand another's behavior.

attachment

the strong emotional connection that develops between people.

culture

the values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group.

telegraphic speech

two-word phrases used by toddlers when they first learn to combine words.

deferred imitation

watching another person's behavior, then acting out that behavior. This occurs between eighteen and twenty-four months.