Infancy and Early Childhood
Infancy and Early Childhood Development Paper
Beverly Mahone
PSY/375
July 11, 2011
Andrew Rodriguez
Infancy and Early Childhood Development Paper The immature years of life and the stage in which the most development occurs in a child are referred to as infancy and early childhood. In this paper the subject will explain development during infancy and early childhood, explain how families affect the development of infants and young children, evaluate different parenting styles and their influences on development during infancy and early childhood, which of the parenting style is most effective and why, and discuss early childhood education and its influence on cognitive development.
Development begins in the prenatal stage. During this stage proper nutrition and monitoring is important to ensure that the development is not affected by any factors. In the first two years rapid growth is obvious in the body, mind, and social relationships (Berger, 2008). The body of an infant grows rapidly in height and weight. An infant’s body stores more fat to provide insulation for warmth and a store of nourishment. This nutrition helps is needed for the brain to continue growing. Experience in exploring the world around an infant helps an infant to develop skills. Through smell, touch, taste, seeing, and hearing sensory skills are developed, and from that perception is gained. Stimulation and a caring environment support motor, sensory, and perceptual skills, and when a child becomes aware of physical sensations such as his or her hands, feet, and mouth cognitive development occurs (Berger, 2008).
Between infancy and early childhood the physical body develops in many ways to include height, weight, and muscle formation. As a child develops into early childhood the body begins to develop more muscle. Brain growth is rapid during the first months of life, when dendrites and the synapses within the cortex increase exponentially (Berger,
Beverly Mahone
PSY/375
July 11, 2011
Andrew Rodriguez
Infancy and Early Childhood Development Paper The immature years of life and the stage in which the most development occurs in a child are referred to as infancy and early childhood. In this paper the subject will explain development during infancy and early childhood, explain how families affect the development of infants and young children, evaluate different parenting styles and their influences on development during infancy and early childhood, which of the parenting style is most effective and why, and discuss early childhood education and its influence on cognitive development.
Development begins in the prenatal stage. During this stage proper nutrition and monitoring is important to ensure that the development is not affected by any factors. In the first two years rapid growth is obvious in the body, mind, and social relationships (Berger, 2008). The body of an infant grows rapidly in height and weight. An infant’s body stores more fat to provide insulation for warmth and a store of nourishment. This nutrition helps is needed for the brain to continue growing. Experience in exploring the world around an infant helps an infant to develop skills. Through smell, touch, taste, seeing, and hearing sensory skills are developed, and from that perception is gained. Stimulation and a caring environment support motor, sensory, and perceptual skills, and when a child becomes aware of physical sensations such as his or her hands, feet, and mouth cognitive development occurs (Berger, 2008).
Between infancy and early childhood the physical body develops in many ways to include height, weight, and muscle formation. As a child develops into early childhood the body begins to develop more muscle. Brain growth is rapid during the first months of life, when dendrites and the synapses within the cortex increase exponentially (Berger,
References: Berger, K. S. (2008). The developing person through the life span (7th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Boyse, K. (2010). Developmental Milestones. University of Michigan Health System. Retrieved from http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm Media centre. (2009). Early child development. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs332/en/index.html Developmental Psychology Student Netletter. (1998). Have you ever wondered why your pre-schooler thinks differently than you?. Retrieved from http://www.mesacc.edu/dept/d46/psy/dev/Fall98/Ear_Chil/ErlyChild.html