GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS

HPC 3O

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT3 basic patterns: Head to foot Near to far Simple to complex

GROUP ACTIVITY! Choose 1 pattern of physical

development draw pictures to illustrate the pattern

Present to the class!

GROWTH DURING THE FIRST YEAR*Remember these are only averages* Weight 1st 6 months, baby gains 1-2

pounds per month. Last ½ of year, 1 pound a month

Average weight of 1 yr old: 20-22 pounds

GROWTH DURING THE FIRST YEAR Height At birth, 20 inches, by one

year, 30 inches

GROWTH DURING THE FIRST YEAR Proportion size relationship between

different parts of the body Baby’s head and abdomen are larger

than an adult’s. Legs and arms are short and small

Fontanels allow head to grow

DEVELOPMENT DURING THE FIRST YEAR Remember, growth refers to changes in

size and development refers to increase in physical, emotional, social or intellectual skills

SIGHT Blurry vision in infancy – within a week,

infant can focus on objects 7-10 inches away

1 month infants can focus on objects 3 ft. away

3 ½ months vision as good as a young adult’s

SIGHT Young babies prefer patterns that show

high contrast, stripes, eyes or faces Prefer the color red Depth perception by 2nd month,

recognize that 3 dimension 3rd month babies want to look at real

objects

SIGHT Hand-eye coordination: move hands

and fingers in relation to what they see age of 3 or 4 months, babies reach for objects

HEARING Sense of hearing develops before birth! At birth can tell which direction the

sound came from Respond to tone of voice rather than

words soothing vs. angry

CLASSICAL MUSIC & BABIES – THE MOZART EFFECT

Opinion is divided; but many experts think that it may stimulate the brain in a way that helps educational and emotional development

“Numerous studies conclude that playing music to babies in the womb and in the early years helps build the neural bridges along which thoughts and information travel. And research suggests it can stimulate the brain's alpha waves, creating a feeling of calm;

a recent study of premature infants found that they were soothed by the music.”

HOMEWORK Write a journal entry from a year-old

baby’s point of view. The entry might indicate what physical change the “baby” considers most important and how the changes in the first year affect her or his life

Refer to text pgs. 252-257