Physical Development
Charts Show average weight, height and abilities of children at certain ages Give general idea of growth and development Remember: children change at different rates
Weight Sign of good health Lose weight after birth then gain weight rapidly First six months: 1-2 lbs per month Last half of first year: 1 lb a month Doubles in first 6months Triples by end of first year
Weight lbs when 1 year old Influenced by heredity, feeding habits and physical activity
Height Growth is steady for first year Newborn: 20 inches One year: 30 inches Heredity influences height more than weight
Growth vs Development Growth: refers to size Development: increase in physical, emotional, social or intellectual skills Both are rapid during 1 st year
Sight Newborn’s vision is blurry at first, within a week they can see 7-10 inches One month: focus on objects 3 feet away 3.5 months: just like young adults
Sight Prefer patterns with high contrast… alternating stripes, bulls eyes of faces. Enjoy the color red
Sight Depth perception: in the second month they become able to recognize an object is three dimensional not flat. Hand eye coordination: gain increasing ability to move their hands/fingers precisely in relation to what is seen 3-4 months: begin to reach for objects they see.
Hearing Develops before birth Respond to sound in the uterus At birth, can tell general direction of sound Respond to tone of voice rather than to words
Smell Smell isn’t development much… why? Newborns to respond differently to odors Within 10 days they can distinguish smell of mother from another person.
Taste Taste develops rapidly Show a preference for sweet tastes They explore their world by putting everything in their mouths How do we know this?
Voice Newborns cry shrill but becomes softer as lungs mature Changes take place in the mouth and throat to prepare for speech development and feeding
Teeth Development of teeth begins in the 6 th week of pregnancy Primary teeth appear 6-7 months Teething: painful for child Teething rings Ice on gums