1. Infant Development OBJECTIVES: You will be able to
Identify and describe the areas of development
Explore the purpose of Primitive Reflexes
Analyze the principles of development
Create an activity related to the principles of development

2. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Developing muscles and motor skills
Physical
Intellectual
Emotional
Social
Developing muscles and motor skills
Developing thinking and language skills
Developing range of emotions and healthy expression of emotions
Developing healthy interactions with others.
Communicating needs.
Learning to trust

3. Growth
A child’s physical increase in size or amount that is easily observed
Examples????

4. Development
The ability of a child to do things that are complex and difficult.
Examples?????

5. Stimulus/Stimuli: A change or changes in the environment that affect the sensory organs, causing the person to react.

6. Sensation: The response of a sensory system (eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose) when it detects a stimulus or stimuli.

7. Perception: The mental processing of sensory information: when the brain interprets a sensation (tries to make understand the sensory info).

8. Perceptual Skills of the Newborn
Seeing
Hearing
Smelling
Taste
Touch
The baby can
focus both eyes on the same point
follow a moving object with the eyes
discriminate (tell the difference between) some colors
respond to various sounds, especially the human voice
Can tell the difference between different sounds
The baby
reacts strongly to some smells
Prefers the smell of her primary caretaker
tell the difference between salty and sweet tastes
tell the difference between sour and bitter
responds to touch over most of the body, especially on the hands and mouth

9. Primitive Reflexes Reflex Stimulation Response Rooting
Cheek stroked with finger or nipple
Head turns; mouth opens
Sucking
Finger or object in infant’s mouth
Sucks using tongue and mouth
Moro (Startle)
Sudden stimulus, such a loud noise or being dropped
Extends legs, arms, and fingers; arches back, draws back head
Tonic neck
Head turned to one side
Extends arms and legs on that side; flexes opposite limbs
Babinski
Sole or foot stroked
Toes fan out; foot twists in
Grasping (Palmar)
Something placed in palm of hand
Makes a tight grasp; will grasp tighter if object is pulled away
Stepping (Walking)
Held upright with feet toughing flat surface
Appears to walk in coordinated way

10. Rooting Reflex

11. Sucking Reflex

12. Moro (Startle) Reflex

13. Tonic Neck Reflex

14. Babinski Reflex

15. Palmar/Plantar (Grasping) Reflex

16. Stepping (Walking) Reflex

17. What is the purpose of these reflexes?
Think about it, write about it and then share with your partner.

18. Principles of Development
Development occurs in a sequence or pattern of stages that can be predicted.
Infants progress through similar stages in about the same order
Example:
Infants learn to hold their head up steadily before they learn to sit up

19. Principles of Development
Development occurs at a different rate for different children
Each child is an individual and will progress through the stages at a different rate
Example:
One infant learns to crawl and stand up faster than the other

20. Principles of Development
Developmental skills build on earlier learning.
Development follows a step by step sequence
Example:
Before the infant uses their fingers to pick up objects, they use their whole hands to reach and grasp

21. Principles of Development
Each area of development is related to other areas (interrelated)
Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social development occurs continually and affect each other
Example: Crawling requires Physical strength; Intellectual coordination; Emotional/Social motivation

22. Principles of Development
Development continues throughout life
Sometimes it happens quickly sometimes it progresses slowly.
It does not stop at a certain age!
Example:
The love of Reading is a lifelong skill that continues to develop throughout life

23. Examples of Basic Developmental Milestones
Development 4-6 months
Development 6-8 Months
Development 8-10 months

24. Journal Question
Imagine that babies were born with the ability to think abstractly just like adults. How would things be different? How would things be the same? Explain using your knowledge of principles of development.

25. ACTIVITY