Chapter 5: Understanding Children
Birth-Age 2
LEQ
1. What is the physical development of children
in the first 2 years after birth?
2. How do children develop cognitively in the
first 2 years after birth?
3. How do children in the first 2 years after birth
develop socially and emotionally?
Physical Development: Size &
Shape
• Average infant weight at birth is 7 ½ pounds
• 5 months later, the infant will have doubled
his weight.
• By 1 year the typical child weighs 22 lbs
• The infant’s length also changes rapidly. The
average newborn measures 20 inches. At 1
year, the infant usually is 30-42 inches.
• There are weight and height differences
between boys & girls. Most boys reach a
bout half of their adult height by 2. Girls will
have passed their halfway mark by 2.
SIDS
• Childcare providers who serve infants
must be knowledgeable about SIDS.
Keeping up to date with state guidelines
and recommendations is essentail.
• When caring for infants, always
• Place infants on their backs to sleep.
• Provide a firm brib covered by a sheet
• Keep soft materials such as comforters,
pillows, and stuffed toys out of the crib
• Make sure the sleeping area is a
comfortable temperature to keep infants
from becoming overheated.
Discuss:
• What changes can be expected in
an infant’s sleep habits during the
first year? What changes in diet
can be expected?
Physical Development: Size &
Shape
• Average infant weight at birth is 7 ½ pounds
• 5 months later, the infant will have doubled
his weight.
• By 1 year the typical child weighs 22 lbs
• The infant’s length also changes rapidly. The
average newborn measures 20 inches. At 1
year, the infant usually is 30-42 inches.
• There are weight and height differences
between boys & girls. Most boys reach a
bout half of their adult height by 2. Girls will
have passed their halfway mark by 2.
Physical Development: Size &
Shape
• Average infant weight at birth is 7 ½ pounds
• 5 months later, the infant will have doubled
his weight.
• By 1 year the typical child weighs 22 lbs
• The infant’s length also changes rapidly. The
average newborn measures 20 inches. At 1
year, the infant usually is 30-42 inches.
• There are weight and height differences
between boys & girls. Most boys reach a
bout half of their adult height by 2. Girls will
have passed their halfway mark by 2.
Reflexes
• Sucking reflex-helps infant obtain food for survival.
• Rooting reflex-causes infants to turn their heads toard anything that
brushes their face. This helps them find a food source such as a
nipple.
• Moro reflex-AKA the startle reflex. The infant will fling arms and
legs outward, then quickly draw arms together and cry. Usually
disappears by 6 months.
• Palmar grasp reflex-grasp reflex when you touch infant’s palms.
• Babinski reflex-present at birth to babies born full term. Stroke the
sole of the foot on the outside from the heel to the toe. The toes
will fan out and curl and the foot twists in. Lasts for the first year.
• Stepping or walking reflex-when an infant is held so the feet are flat
on a surface, the infant will life one foot after another in a stepping
motion. This reflex usually disappears 2-3 months after birth.
Infants learn to voluntarily step later in the first year.
Infant Reflexes video clip
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r
jnQhno3LA4
• Discuss: What is the difference
between survival and primitive
reflexes? Which reflexes disappear
with age? Why is it so important for
doctors to test infants for the
reflexes?
Worksheet: Reflexes
Motor Sequence
• The order in which an infant/toddler
is able to perform movements.
• In the first months, head and trunk
control develops. Infant can lift his
head up and can watch a moving
object from side to side.
• By 4-5 months an infant can roll over
usually from front to back first.
• 4-6 sit upright. The infant needs to
strengthen neck and back muscles to
do this.
Motor Sequence cont.
• Gradually infants can sit up. After
this crawling is the next skill.
• Crawling vs. creeping. Creeping is
what we commonly k now as
crawling. Crawling occurs when the
infant’s abdomen is on the floor.
• Hitching happens next
• Creeping
• walking
Worksheet: Motor Sequences
Hand movements
• At first hand movements are
reflexive. 3-4 months infants swipe at
objects. They cannot grasp objects
because they close their hands too
early or too late.
• By 9 months hand-eye coordination
improves and infants can pick up
objects.
• 16 months-scribbling simple figures
and lines
• 2 years-shows preference for hand
Activity
• In pairs of 2, survey toy catalogs, educational
equipment catalogs and parenting magazines
to locate appropriate toys to aid in an infant’s
motor development. What materials are
recommended for gross motor skills? What
are the recommendations for developing fine
motor skills.
• The pairs will share with the large group.
Cognitive Development in the
first 2 years
• At birth most movement is reflexes. As they grow,
they begin to make things happen for themselves.
• 2 main forces influence a child’s cognitive
development: heredity and environment. Heredity
determines when a child’s brain and senses will be
mature enough to learn certain skills. Environment
affects it because children need opportunities to
use their senses and try new things. As caregivers,
you need to provide the environment that allows
children to develop into their full potential
intellectually.
• Discuss: Give an example of a positive
environmental effect on a child’s cognitive
development. Give an example of heredity that
may negatively impact a child’s cognitive
development.
Birth-3 months
• Newborn’s vision is blurry at birth.
Infants appear to focus on objects in
the center of their vision field.
• Near vision is better developed than
far sight.
• Studies show infants will gaze longer
at patterned objects such as checks
and stripes. They seem to prefer
bold colors to pastels. They pay more
attention to faces than objects.
Birth-3 months cont.
• Infants tend to shift their attention to
the face as they get older.
• Hearing also develops early. From
birth, infants will turn their heads
toward a source of sound. They are
startled by loud noises.
• Infants do not distinguish between
themselves and the objects around
them.
• They experiment with reflex actions.
3-6 months
• Infants start to focus on their
surroundings.
• By 6 months, infants can distinguish
between familiar and unfamiliar
faces.
• They also start to learn that they can
touch, shake and hit objects they see.
And that they may make sounds
• Memory, foresight and self
awareness are all developing.
3-6 months cont.
• 3-6 month olds start to show judgment.
• Infants respond to noise and will look
around to explore sources of noise.
• Vocalization increases at this age.
• Infants respond to new ways to touch.
• Think with their senses and movements.
• Body awareness begins to develop
between 5-6 months.
6-9 months