PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT & THE TODDLER

Toddler  A name given to a child between the ages of 1 and 3 years old.

How does a toddler look?  Body growth and development is determined by the environment and heredity.  Genetics will determine how tall a child will be.  Genetics will also influence weight.  Taller people will usually gain more weight than a shorter person.  Environment factors could be exercise, health, diet, & emotions

How does a toddler look?  Girls reach 53% of adult height 2  Boys reach 50% of adult height by 2  Gain about 5lbs more  Usually gain 6 pounds per year  Usually grow about 2- 3 inches each year 1-2 years old2-3 yeas old

How does a toddler look?  Head is ¼ their total weight  Chest & abdomen is about the same size  At 30 months the chest is larger than the abdomen  Child’s body build will become apparent

How does a toddler look? Age in MonthsHeightWeight 1230in21lbs 1832in24.5lbs 2434in27lbs 3036in30lbs 3638in32lbs

Skeletal Growth

Bones & Teeth  As the toddler grows, their bones continue to become harder.  More flexible & less likely to break due to cartilage  More prone to bone disease and deformation due to soft bones  Fontanel gaps (soft spot) between the skull bones close

Bones & Teeth  Spine becomes S shaped- allows posture to be straighter and more upright  Full set of deciduous teeth  Fat deposits under the skin decrease  Chubbier child becomes slender  Lengthening and thickening of muscles slows

Walking, running, catching, throwing, jumping, climbing, Motor Development- Large

Walking-beginning  Walk without support in 2-3 months after their first birthday  Stand with feet wide apart- wider base of support  Turn feet outward & flex knees  Walk on tip toes- not learned to lower heels yet  Take irregular steps

Walking-beginning  Lurch forward, weave  Arms held out for balance  Walking posture will change when spine changes from C shaped to S shaped (lumbar curve)

Walking- 2 year old  Walk may look like run  170 steps per min. (half the length of adult)  Walk over objects in the floor

Running & Jumping  Begins at 2  Holds arms out or up  Awkward because cannot start or stop quickly  Stepping off of low objects at 18 mths first  2-jumps off low objects with 2 feet  Move arms backward RunningJumping

Climbing  mths  Climb on furniture  Walk up & down stairs  Relates to what is in their environment & courage

Catching & Throwing  Begins in a sitting position  Rigid throw  Do not shift weight  When throwing with one hand, usually step with the same foot  Catch by squatting and picking up  2-3 stand in one position with arms out  Will not move to ball and may close eyes ThrowingCatching

Holding & Grasping Motor Development- Small

Eye-Hand Coordination  Children must coordinate what they see with the way they move their hands.  Fine motor skills depend on child’s level of eye hand coordination  As it improves, the more complex the skill is

Holding & Grasping  Can hold objects between thumb & index finder  Hold spoons in their fist  Feed themselves  Drink from cup  Can fill empty containers  Make marks on paper

Holding & Grasping  Remove hats and socks  Build a tower  Put objects in holes  String beads  Turn pages of books  Open doors  Children use right hand until 7 or 8

Activities

Walking  Pick a partner  Walk quickly for 1 min, have partner time your results, write it down.  Allow the partner to do the same.  Answer the following questions 1. How do your results compare with your partners? 2. How do your results compare with the average rate of a toddler? 3. What conclusions can you draw from this experiment?

Play Equipment  View pictures of various types of play equipment for toddlers.  What types of equipment would promote gross motor development? Include equipment for each area of development.