Baby’s 1st Year

5 Basic Principles of Development

• 1. Similar for everyone• 2. Highly individualized• 3. Builds on earlier learning• 4. Different areas are interrelated• 5. Continuous throughout life

• Development occurs faster in the 1st year of life than any other time

• Physical development is different than growth. Physical development refers to physical skills acquired during the 1st year of life.

3 Basic Patterns

• head to foot• near to far• simple to complex

• One of the most important physical developmental tasks that impacts a child's future is the development of the brain

*essential connection between cells is synapses

Genetics play a part - Environment plays an equally

important role• 80% of the brain is developed by age

3• 50% of brain is developed by 6

months

• No stimulation – child will not react to environment

• The most effective actions in the 1st year are relationships

Emotional/Social

Eric Erickson - 1st year of life – trust vs mistrust

• When a child does not development in physical, social, emotional, or intellectual, this is a condition known as failure to thrive

• The most significant person in the baby’s life– parent

T or F• Babies begin to learn even before

s/he is born• True

• Intellectual - Jean Piaget – his work contributed to our understanding of trust and physical development of the brain both contribute to our understanding of how these factors interact

In 4 key areas

• remembering• making associations• Understand cause & effect• paying attention – longer

• How can parents & caregivers make a difference in an infants intellectual development?

• Know how to respond & how to recognize all the things children learn

• Children can learn language early – even though they can’t produce it, they can listen. This stimulation helps the brain grow.

• Toys & Games should start with things to watch & listen and graduate to things they can manipulate

• Piaget – Object Permanence – something still exists even when its hidden

• Too many materials can overwhelm a child. Interaction & stimulation come primarily from the caregiver.