1. 5. Conception to late childhood

2. Physical development from conception to birth
Physical changes that occur from conception to birth involve a series of orderly and predictable changes
Infancy: (birth – 2 years)
Early childhood: (2 – 3 years)
Middle childhood: (3 – 6 years)
Late childhood: (6 – 12 years)

3. Conception and fertilisation
Human growth and development begins occurring before birth
A sperm cell is the male gamete
An ovum is the female gamete
Fertilisation occurs when a sperm penetrates an ovum
At fertilisation, the sex of the new individual is determined

4. Prenatal development
Germinal stage : starts at conception and ends when the blastocyst implants on the uterine wall
Embryonic stage : lasts about 2 months after conception
Foetal stage: Continues until birth

5. Germinal stage The cell formed at conception is called a zygote
The zygote divides into two cells and continues to divide rapidly until it forms a solid ‘ball’ called a morula
By about the fifth day, the organism is called a blastocyst
The blastocyst implants on the uterine wall

6. Embryonic stage
Once implantation has occurred, the organism is known as an embryo
This period lasts for about 2 months and is characterised by rapid growth and development – the embryo develops the structure and characteristics of a human being
By the end of this stage, all major organs are present and will continue to develop

7. Foetal stage
Begins in the 9th week of pregnancy and continues until birth (full term = 40 weeks)
At this stage, the embryo is known as a foetus
During this stage, the foetus grows from 5 centimetres long to approximately 50 centimetres long at birth

8. Physical changes from birth
Neonate: the term used to describe a newborn baby (birth – 4 weeks)
Key adjustments after birth:
Nutrition
Circulation and respiration
Temperature control
Removal of body wastes

9. Physical changes during infancy and childhood
Physical growth and development
Height
Weight
Changes to body proportions
Changes in body composition
Motor development

10. Social development
Social development begins at birth when an infant begins to interact with others
Occurs in a number of ways, including:
Observation
Direct instruction
Identification
Aspects include: gross and fine motor skills, language, cognition, emotions, relationships, behaviour

11. Emotional development
Emotional development is the progressive change that occurs in a person’s ability to understand and control feelings
Self-concept: the picture an individual has of themselves; viewing ourselves in a ‘special’ mirror
Self-esteem: how good an individual feels about themselves

12. Intellectual development
Also known as cognitive development
Infants: begin exploring the world by using their senses
Early and middle childhood: children ask many questions
Late childhood: children begin to reason and perform more complex operations

13. The principles of individual human development
Developmental changes are progressive and orderly and coherant
The four main characteristics of development:
Development is about change
Development is continuous and gradual
Development is cumulative
Developmental patterns are orderly and predictable

14. Health status of Australia’s children
Many factors combine to influence the health and development of children
Australian children generally experience good health
Some key health concerns: communicable diseases, injuries, overweight and obesity, insufficient physical activity, poor nutrition, mental health issues, chronic illness