Part IVEarly Childhood

Chapter 7Physical and Cognitive Development in Early

Childhood

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Physical and Motor Development

Features of Physical Development Very regular, continual pattern, except for

growth spurt in infancy

Continuing Brain Development Brain increases from 25% of adult weight

at birth up to 90% at ages 5-6 years

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Physical and Motor Development

Influences on Physical Development Genetic Influences Nutrition Disease Psychological Disturbance Socioeconomic Status Secular Trends

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Physical and Motor Development

Growing Motor Skills Gross Motor=large muscle, i.e. Running,

climbing, etc. Fine Motor=small muscle, i.e. drawing,

writing, etc.

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Cognitive Development Piaget’s Preoperational Period

Realism=distinguish between real and internal world and accept differences

Animism=belief that inanimate objects are alive, i.e. their favorite teddy bear

Artificialism=objects are man-made, i.e. moon

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Cognitive Development Children’s Theory of Mind

Children’s beliefs, desires, knowledge and thoughts

Attention Span Memory Organization Retrieval or Recall

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Early Childhood Education

Piaget and Montessori Based on developmental theory of behavior Children interact with environment as active

participants

Project Head Start Helps educate preschool age disadvantaged

children to prepare them for starting school

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Language Development

Language as Rule LearningAcquisition by 4-5 years;refinements

continue to 10 yrs.Phonology=soundswordsSyntax=wordssentencesSemantics=interpret meaning of wordsPragmatics=how to take part in

conversation

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Language Development The Pattern of Language Development

Language irregularities Overregularities

Bilingualism Bilingual Education programs started with

decision in 1974 of Lau vs. Nichols that bilingual children should be taught in their native language, at least part-time

ESL (English as a Second Language) programs in most school districts