Child Development Chapter 2 PDF

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Chapter 2 - Physical Development and Health ● Should you be concerned about your students' physical well-being, such as nutrition, physical activity, and sleep? Key aspects of brain development: ● Volume ● Myelination – increases connections between key areas of the brain ● Glucose rate – fuel for the brain ● Neurotransmitters ● Sensitive period (first 10 years) What does "individual difference" mean? ● While brains are generally similar in size, shape, and structure, there can be differences in: - Synaptic pruning - Myelination - Other factors What do individual differences in brain development predict? ● Two examples: 1. Cortisol: human stress response - Adverse childhood experiences contribute to brain differences. ACE include the cumulative risk factors we have discussed (poverty, discrimination, child abuse, exposure to violence) 2. Behavioral inhibition - Shy = High cortisol/stress response/heart racing Brain Plasticity: ● The brain can change as a result of experience ● Stimulating environments promote brain development - Biological: exercise, nutrition, sleep, drugs - Social: attachment, stress, and enriching environments - The brain continues to grow over the lifespan. Some believe the first 10 years are the most critical

Puberty: ● Gradual process over several years ● Youth of the same age maybe at radically different phases of puberty ● Early or late maturing may be a risk factor, when combined with other risks ● Don't assume big kids are mature and small kids are immature Low Birth Weight: ● Less than 5.5 pounds ● Linked with - Small size and delayed motor development - Socioemotional problems (ex. Peer rejection) - Cognitive problems (ex. Low IQ) - School problem (ex. Low test scores and learning disabilities) ● Can be caused by smoking and other drug use ● Effects can be mitigated by improving the quality of parenting; the earlier the better What factors influence growth and motor development? ● Genes ● Exercise - PE and recess have been reduced in schools ● Nutrition - Breast milk is ideal for infants - Most youth eat too much fat and sugar, not enough fruits and vegetables Parent - Child Relationship: ● An important factor of physical development - Poor relationship indicates delayed height, growth, speech, and walking - Children responded well to intervention however once back in the same environment growth slowed down again Group Differences in Physical Development: ● Gender

● SES -

Girls mature earlier in infancy and puberty Similar in activity level and athletic skill, until puberty Boys may reach puberty up to two years later than girls Low SESS at greater risk for poor nutrition Lower SES girls experience faster puberty

Classroom Implications of Growth and motor Development: ● Reduce stress - build social emotional learning into classroom routines ● Provide good nutrition at school; ● Provide opportunities for physical activity ● Get expert help for students with motor problems Contemporary Health Challenges: ● Sleep deprivation ● Obesity and other eating disorders ● Drug use Sleep Deprivation: ● May masquerade as depression of ADHD Interferes with academic success and behavior at school ● Is most likely in adolescence ● Can be caused by sleep disorders Eating Disorders: ● Obesity - Increasing among children - Risk factor for diabetes, and other health, achievement, and socio-emotional problems - Linked to exercise, diet, sleep, TV watching, parent behavior, and SES ● Anorexia nervosa and bulimia - Emerge in adolescence - More girls than boys

ATOD Use: ● Alcohol is most common (then tobacco and marijuana) ● Although many youths try ATOD, most are not regular users ● Heavy users began in elementary school ● Until recently, White youth use the most legal and illicit drugs. Recently, there has been an increase among Latino and African-American youth - Risk factors - Parents use, friends use, mental health problems, and other risk factors - Protective factors - Parenting, personal high IQ, valued skill and self-control. - Teachers can help by promoting school bonding and abstinence from ATOD use Teratogen: An Agent That Harms the Developing Fetus ● Alcohol ● Tobacco ● Stress ● Pollutants ● Mother's illness...