Patterns of Physical Development
Infants Grow and Develop in three basic patterns. They grow from head to foot, near to far, and simple to complex.
Head To Foot
This pattern of development occurs during the prenatal stage of pregnancy. The head leads other parts of the body in development (raising the head to visually see objects). Followed by the control of muscles, and it then moves down to the arms and hands. The control of legs and feet occurs more slowly. At about the age of one babies develop the skills needed to walk.
Near To Far
Development also starts close to the trunk of the body and moves out. For example, babies wave their arms when they see an object they want. Then it will develop to more precise hand and finger control and the baby will grasp for an object with their fingers.
Simple to Complex
In the simple to complex pattern babies develop their large muscle groups first (legs, arms, and torso). As they gain control of these muscles, they then learn to do complex tasks. At first the baby learns how to control their head, then. rolling, crawling, and then walking. Even more complex movements require small muscle development. Things such as coloring requires good control of the fingers to grasp markers.
Infants Grow and Develop in three basic patterns. They grow from head to foot, near to far, and simple to complex.
Head To Foot
This pattern of development occurs during the prenatal stage of pregnancy. The head leads other parts of the body in development (raising the head to visually see objects). Followed by the control of muscles, and it then moves down to the arms and hands. The control of legs and feet occurs more slowly. At about the age of one babies develop the skills needed to walk.
Near To Far
Development also starts close to the trunk of the body and moves out. For example, babies wave their arms when they see an object they want. Then it will develop to more precise hand and finger control and the baby will grasp for an object with their fingers.
Simple to Complex
In the simple to complex pattern babies develop their large muscle groups first (legs, arms, and torso). As they gain control of these muscles, they then learn to do complex tasks. At first the baby learns how to control their head, then. rolling, crawling, and then walking. Even more complex movements require small muscle development. Things such as coloring requires good control of the fingers to grasp markers.
Influences on Growth and Development
Heredity, or "nature", is the physical image a infant inherits from the their parents. Environment, or "nurture", are influences such as nutrition, stimulation, health, and relationships, Both play a huge role in growth and development.
Heredity
is the "blueprint" of a human body and how it functions throughout life. A infant inherits a unique set of genes from their parents, that determines their physical traits. Also genes shape larger traits, such as intellectual potential or artistic abilities. However, having a certain trait does not mean a person will exhibit those traits.
Nutrition
Infants should eat foods that contain nutrients the body needs to grow and develop throughout their life. A good nutrition can affect the infant's bone strength, brain development, and height positively. Not getting enough calories or necessary nutrients can put the baby at risk of illness, delayed growth, or even death.
Experiences
Brain development relies on the quantity and variety of experiences. Experiences are critical for an infants growth and development. Failure to reach normal brain development can have lifelong negative effects.
Environment
An infant needs a stimulating environment, one where the baby is able to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch a variety of things to help brain development. An environment lacking in these stimulants can lead to fewer and weaker connections, which can delay brain development. Also and environment where harmful substances are being used can lead to poor health, repertory and ear infections, and asthma. Also these conditions can make it difficult for a child to develop normally. and can lead to long term mentally or physical disabilities.
Developing During the First Year
Vision
At birth vision is blurry, within a week a newborn is aware of the environment and can focus on objects that are 7-10 inches away. By one month, babies can focus on objects 3 feet away. by six months eyesight reaches the adult level. At first the baby can only see two dimensional, but then develop depth perception. They can then track movements and reach for objects by determining how far away they are.
Hearing
Hearing develops before birth. Babies in the womb respond to sounds and changes in the heart, mothers voice, and may even hear noises outside of the mothers body. At birth a baby can tell a general direction that a sound comes from. Also, newborns react to the tone of voice rather than words. Language develops with the hearing of words, then imitating and understanding them.
Touch
Relies on touch to learn about environment. Also gentle touch helps develop trust with an infant. Infants will learn different textures, and later will play a huge part in exploration for an infant.
Smell and Taste
Within ten days of after birth babies can distinguish their mothers smell from another person's smell. Taste develops rapidly in a infant. Babies can tell the difference between water, sour liquids, and sugar solutions by two weeks (showing preference to sweet substances). Throughout the first year babies put anything in their mouth, learning how different things taste and what to, and not to, put in their mouth.
Motor Skills
As an newborn most movements are due to reflexes. Muscular movements during this time are called motor skills. The two types of motor skills are called gross and fine motor skills.
Reflexes
Sucking: This is stimulated when something is put in the mouth.
Rooting: Happens when baby's cheek is stroked. The infant will turn towards the side of the face that was stroked.
Other: Includes shutting eyes under bright lights, grabbing finger when it is placed in hand, and making stepping motions when feet touch the ground,
VOCAB
Stimulating Environment: one in which the baby has a wide variety of things to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch.
Depth Perception: Ability to perceive objects that are three dimensional.
Reflexes: instinctive, automatic responses, such as grasping of sucking.
Gross Motor Skills: Involve the large muscles of the body such as those of the legs and shoulders. Make large movements such as jumping and running.
Fine Motor Skills: Smaller muscles of the body such as those in the fingers. require small, precise movements, such as using scissors or writing.
Heredity, or "nature", is the physical image a infant inherits from the their parents. Environment, or "nurture", are influences such as nutrition, stimulation, health, and relationships, Both play a huge role in growth and development.
Heredity
is the "blueprint" of a human body and how it functions throughout life. A infant inherits a unique set of genes from their parents, that determines their physical traits. Also genes shape larger traits, such as intellectual potential or artistic abilities. However, having a certain trait does not mean a person will exhibit those traits.
Nutrition
Infants should eat foods that contain nutrients the body needs to grow and develop throughout their life. A good nutrition can affect the infant's bone strength, brain development, and height positively. Not getting enough calories or necessary nutrients can put the baby at risk of illness, delayed growth, or even death.
Experiences
Brain development relies on the quantity and variety of experiences. Experiences are critical for an infants growth and development. Failure to reach normal brain development can have lifelong negative effects.
Environment
An infant needs a stimulating environment, one where the baby is able to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch a variety of things to help brain development. An environment lacking in these stimulants can lead to fewer and weaker connections, which can delay brain development. Also and environment where harmful substances are being used can lead to poor health, repertory and ear infections, and asthma. Also these conditions can make it difficult for a child to develop normally. and can lead to long term mentally or physical disabilities.
Developing During the First Year
Vision
At birth vision is blurry, within a week a newborn is aware of the environment and can focus on objects that are 7-10 inches away. By one month, babies can focus on objects 3 feet away. by six months eyesight reaches the adult level. At first the baby can only see two dimensional, but then develop depth perception. They can then track movements and reach for objects by determining how far away they are.
Hearing
Hearing develops before birth. Babies in the womb respond to sounds and changes in the heart, mothers voice, and may even hear noises outside of the mothers body. At birth a baby can tell a general direction that a sound comes from. Also, newborns react to the tone of voice rather than words. Language develops with the hearing of words, then imitating and understanding them.
Touch
Relies on touch to learn about environment. Also gentle touch helps develop trust with an infant. Infants will learn different textures, and later will play a huge part in exploration for an infant.
Smell and Taste
Within ten days of after birth babies can distinguish their mothers smell from another person's smell. Taste develops rapidly in a infant. Babies can tell the difference between water, sour liquids, and sugar solutions by two weeks (showing preference to sweet substances). Throughout the first year babies put anything in their mouth, learning how different things taste and what to, and not to, put in their mouth.
Motor Skills
As an newborn most movements are due to reflexes. Muscular movements during this time are called motor skills. The two types of motor skills are called gross and fine motor skills.
Reflexes
Sucking: This is stimulated when something is put in the mouth.
Rooting: Happens when baby's cheek is stroked. The infant will turn towards the side of the face that was stroked.
Other: Includes shutting eyes under bright lights, grabbing finger when it is placed in hand, and making stepping motions when feet touch the ground,
VOCAB
Stimulating Environment: one in which the baby has a wide variety of things to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch.
Depth Perception: Ability to perceive objects that are three dimensional.
Reflexes: instinctive, automatic responses, such as grasping of sucking.
Gross Motor Skills: Involve the large muscles of the body such as those of the legs and shoulders. Make large movements such as jumping and running.
Fine Motor Skills: Smaller muscles of the body such as those in the fingers. require small, precise movements, such as using scissors or writing.