1100 04.1 - Early Childhood - Physical Development

Summary

This video from Bart Pson for Psychology 1100 focuses on early childhood development, particularly physical growth. It covers topics such as growth patterns, with children slowing down but still gaining height and losing baby fat. Brain development is highlighted, reaching 90% of adult weight by age five, with myelination enhancing fine motor skills. Hemisphericity is discussed, noting lateralization of brain functions with the left hemisphere倾向logical and language tasks, and the right半球擅长visual-spatial skills. The video also touches on motor development, including both gross and fine motor skills, and the establishment of handedness. Nutrition, health, and sleep patterns in early childhood are also explored, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet, common illnesses, and the decrease in sleep needs as children mature.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Growth in early childhood slows down compared to infancy, with children growing 2-3 inches and gaining 4-6 pounds per year.
• 🧠 Brain development is rapid, reaching 90% of adult weight by age five, largely due to myelination improving fine motor skills and cognitive functions.
• 👁️ Visual skills improve significantly as the brain's development enhances the processing of visual information, which is crucial for reading.
• 🧬 Hemisphericity shows some brain functions are more dominant in one hemisphere, with the left hemisphere often leading in logical and language tasks, and the right in spatial and emotional tasks.
• 🔄 Brain plasticity is most pronounced in early childhood, allowing for significant recovery from injuries or surgeries like hemispherectomy.
• 🏃‍♂️ Motor development includes both gross and fine motor skills, with preschoolers showing improved coordination and self-taught skills, and gender differences being less significant than individual ones.
• 🎨 Fine motor skills develop more slowly and are crucial for tasks like holding a pencil and dressing, with drawing skills progressing through distinct stages.
• 🤲 Handedness becomes more established in early childhood, with left-handed individuals showing advantages in certain areas like math and sports, but also facing higher risks for certain health and psychological issues.
• 🍎 Nutrition in early childhood is marked by changing appetites and food preferences, with strategies suggested to help children accept a variety of foods.
• 🏥 Health and illness in early childhood vary widely by region, with developed countries facing different challenges like obesity and diabetes compared to less developed regions.
• 💤 Sleep patterns in preschoolers typically involve 10-11 hours in a 24-hour period, with sleep disorders like night terrors and sleepwalking being more common but reducing as children mature.

Q & A

What is the typical growth rate for children during early childhood?

During early childhood, the growth rate slows down compared to infancy. Children tend to grow 2 to 3 inches per year and gain about 4 to 6 pounds per year.

How does brain growth progress in early childhood?

The brain develops more quickly than any other organ during early childhood, reaching about 90% of its adult weight by the age of five, largely due to the process of myelination.

What is myelination and how does it affect brain development?

Myelination is the process of putting a fatty sheath on the axons of neurons, which facilitates the development of fine motor skills, balance, and coordination. It also improves the processing of visual information and helps in reading.

What is the concept of hemisphericity in brain function?

Hemisphericity, or lateralization, refers to the idea that some brain functions are more likely to occur in one hemisphere of the brain than the other. However, it's important to note that people use both hemispheres, and the functions overlap.

How does the left hemisphere of the brain differ from the right hemisphere in terms of function?

The left hemisphere is more involved in logical analysis, problem-solving, language, and computation, while the right hemisphere shows superiority in visual-spatial functions, aesthetic, and emotional responses.

What is the significance of brain plasticity in early childhood?

Brain plasticity is the ability to compensate for injuries or changes, and it is greatest at 1 to 2 years of age. This allows for recovery from significant events like hemispherectomy, where half of the brain is removed.

How do gross and fine motor skills develop in early childhood?

Gross motor skills, which involve large muscle groups, develop through self-teaching and observing others. Fine motor skills, involving small muscles for manipulation and coordination, develop more slowly and enable tasks like holding a pencil and dressing oneself.

What are some gender differences in motor development during early childhood?

Girls as a group tend to be slightly better at balance and precision, while boys as a group are slightly better at throwing and kicking. However, individual differences are much larger than group differences.

How does handedness develop in early childhood, and what are some associated advantages and disadvantages?

Handedness becomes more strongly established during early childhood, with most children being right-handed. Left-handed individuals may have advantages in certain sports and mathematical abilities but may also be more likely to experience language problems and certain health issues.

What are some common health and nutritional challenges faced by children in early childhood?

Children in early childhood often face common minor illnesses and may develop strong food preferences. Nutritional challenges include the need for fewer calories and the potential for overconsumption of sugar and salt.

How does sleep change during early childhood, and what are some common sleep disorders?

Preschoolers typically sleep 10 to 11 hours in a 24-hour period, often including a nap. Common sleep disorders include night terrors, nightmares, and sleepwalking, which are more likely during early childhood and decrease as children mature.