INFANCY: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 5
Beyond The Book
Design a Developmentally Appropriate Toy
In the text, the typical motor milestones are given for both arm movement and grasping
and for locomotion. Pick an age group (e.g., 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months,
and 1 year), and design a baby toy that is appropriate for the motor development of
children in their assigned age range. For example, 6-month-olds can transfer objects
back and forth between their hands so a large, patterned object would be an
appropriate toy for infants of this age. Focus on why the toy is developmentally
appropriate and appealing to both parents and children.
Early Brain Development
Go to the following website on brain development in infancy and childhood:
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_brainFAQ. From the
section on postnatal development from this FAQs page, have find and list 10 facts about
the brain in postnatal development.
Death of a Malnourished Baby
In May of 2007, the Associated Press reported that a vegan couple was sentenced to
life in prison for the murder of their 6-week-old son. The son’s death was attributed to
malnutrition. He weighed only 3.5 pounds at the time of his death. The first-time
parents claimed to have fed the child a diet consisting primarily of soy-milk and apple
juice. Their lawyer claims that they unintentionally starved their child because the apple
juice worked as a diuretic and blocked the absorption of nutrients from the soy milk.
Prosecutors claimed the baby suffered a prolonged and painful death, not because of
what he was fed, but because he was fed too little and that his nutritional needs were
deliberately ignored by his parents. (Full articles can be found at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18574603/from/ET/ and
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/21/opinion/21planck.html?ex=1338955200&en=399e4
23e2a4f7d4b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink)
Reflect on this case. What are the nutritional needs of an infant? What kinds of
problems, other than death, can malnutrition cause? What kinds of social policies could
be enacted to inform parents of their child’s nutritional needs? How can new mothers
get help to feed their baby? Do you agree or disagree with the outcome of this case?
Why?
Infant Diets: Creating a Guide for Caregivers
According to the NIH, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United
States, with one child in five being overweight (Torgan, 2002). It seems the fear of
having an obese child has influenced some parents to implement a low fat diet for their
infants, which can be harmful to the child’s healthy development. In fact, most of
America's malnourished infants and toddlers today come from one of two sources:
poverty that does not give children access to the food they need, and parents wanting to
help their children fight obesity, cholesterol, or heart disease. However, fat is an
essential part of infants’ diets. Fats are needed for brain development, development of
the visual system, tissue growth, and heart health (Uauy & Castillo, 2003). Fats also
assist in general growth and keep a child's body temperature consistent. Use
information from the textbook and the internet to fill out the handout You’re the Scientist:
Research Methods used to Examine Babies’ Perceptual Abilities, a guide for caregivers.
A good starting point is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s collection of resources on
infant and child nutrition in their Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC),
fnic.nal.usda.gov. Another helpful resource is www.keepkidshealthy.com, a reputable
website run by Vincent R. Iannelli, MD, FAAP is a board certified Pediatrician and
Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the UT Southwestern Medical School.
Torgan, C. (2002). Childhood obesity on the rise. The NIH Word on Health.
Uauy, R. & Castillo, C. (2003). Lipid requirements of infants: Implications for nutrient
composition of fortified complementary foods. Journal of Nutrition, 133(9), 2962S2972S.
Handout: You’re the Scientist: Research
Methods used to Examine Babies’ Perceptual
Abilities
Instructions. Use the
information found in your
textbook and information you
gather from reputable internet
sources, such as the USDA’s
Food and Nutrition Information
Center (fnic.nal.usda.gov), to
create a pamphlet informing
new parents about the
nutritional needs of their
children.
Diet recommendations: When and how
should you introduce solid foods?
Name ___________________________
Date______________ Section:_______
Infants (0-6 months)
Toddlers (1-2 years)
Nutritional needs:
Nutritional needs:
Nutritional Needs of Infants
Diet recommendations:
Infants (6 months- 1 year)
Nutritional needs:
Diet recommendations:
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________
Section: _______________
Perceptual Research with Infants
Instructions: Use the research methods described in your textbook and by your instructor to determine the age at which infants
achieve the perceptual skill assigned to you: __________________
Participants
(Ages, etc.)
Habituation/
Dishabituation
Preferential
Looking
Operant
Conditioning
Materials
Needed
Procedure
Evidence indicating an infant
had acquired the perceptual
skill
Evidence indicating an infant
had NOT acquired the
perceptual skill