o o o o o o o o o o o Chapter 7 Physical Development in Early Childhood Bladder and Bowel Control Toilet training is best delayed until the months following turning 2 Can take from 3 12 months to potty train Accidents and setbacks will be prominent so patience is key There are signs that the child is ready to begin training Can identify signals from full bladder and rectum Is bothered feels distress by a wet or dirty diaper Can control the involved muscles until reaching a toilet Growth in Early childhood Effective training techniques Establishing regular toilet routines Using gentle encouragement Praising child for effort Growth of the body slows down Shape becomes more streamlined Center of gravity becomes the torso Skeletal growth continues New growth is more centered In general growth curve is Normative Growth Patterns Rapid in infancy Slow in early and middle childhood Rapid again in adolescence About 2 5 inches and gain around 6 pounds per year Boys are typically taller and heavier Smooth and continuous vs episodic Slow and steady Stop and start pattern Choppy looks like stairs Periods of growth range from 24 hours to a few days with periods of no growth in between In early childhood there are wider individual differences BMI o Method used to determine if the child is under or over weight o Normal is in the 50th percentile o Measured in kg m2 Influences on Growth and Health of the Child o Heredity and Hormones Genes control hormone production Pituitary hormones Growth Hormone GH Synthetic growth hormone o Can be used if the child is not growing properly of falls behind o Emotional Wellbeing Stress Thyroid stimulating hormone directs thyroid to produce thyroxine for brain growth which is necessary for GH to have full impact on body size development Preschoolers in stressful homes ex abuse neglect parent conflict experience more Respiratory illness Intestinal illness Unintentional injuries o o o Physiological indicators Cortisol o Higher levels during times of stress Involved in temperament attachment and quality of child care Attachment Parental bonding Affection English and Romanian Adoptees Study 1990s o Physical Wellbeing Physical abuse and neglect Effects of early severe deprivation on orphans adopted into UK families Psychological deprivation was greatest predictor of cognitive deficits Children could catch up developmentally if adopted before 6 months old If adopted between 6 months and 2 years children made some developmental gains but were still significantly delayed o Early maltreatment increases risks of later problems Pollack studies of abused children Sensitivity and perception Children of abuse are more sensitive to anger cues and perceive anger in adults who are not actually angry perceive anger in other situations o Neglected children o o Emotional impairment Inability to identify emotions o Sleep Important for continued growth GH is released during sleep Allows brain to recharge and rest May help store memories Changes in sleep Multiple naps 2 to 3 year olds need up to 13 hours per day 4 to 6 year olds still need up to 11 hours per day Sleep problems are common in young children Nightmares night terrors difficulty falling asleep and staying o Increasing Sleep asleep Establishing a regular bedtime Enough to ensure the 10 to 11 hours that are necessary Maintaining bedtime rituals Special pajamas book toy Not allowing TV or computer use Responding consistently to resistance Firm but gentle o Childhood Mortality Rates relatively low in the US but high in developing countries Although often due to very preventable and treatable infections Underlying causes o Lack of immunizations o Malnutrition for children under 5 Ex measles and polio are fatal for malnourished children o Diet and Nutrition o Poverty Compared to infants young children are less hungry and require fewer calories Decreased appetite because growth is slower Picky eating But can accept new food within 8 to 15 exposures Danger of the clean plate club Trains child not to listen to internal huger cues Children may overeat just to gain the reward of dessert Possible change Full Plate Club for kids who choose to fill their plate with healthy foods as opposed to other things Variety and healthy options Obesity risk Using food as bribe punishment reward entertainment Don t force the child to finish their food even if everything is Eating role models healthy on their plate Appetite becomes unpredictable Preference for familiar foods Social environment influences food choices Poverty o Imitation Children can be malnourished underweight and even have shorter body size o Malnutrition o Will imitate others whom they admire About one third of the world s children suffer from malnutrition before the age of 5 Malnutrition is not just the lack of food it could also be the lack of nutrients or nutrient rich food Marasmus lack of essential nutrients causes a wasted condition of the body Kwashiorkor protein deficit causes the stomach to appear extremely swollen and bloated o Tooth Decay Care of primary teeth is essential Training toothpaste is a good way of getting a child into the habit of brushing his or her teeth everyday 40 of 5 year olds in the US have some tooth decay Poor diet and or poor health care leads to the occurrence of cavities Poverty stricken preschoolers tend to have cavities in about 2 teeth each year Smoking in the home increases likelihood of tooth decay threefold o Infectious Diseases Minor illness and infection Normal part of childhood and exposure can help boost immunity Poor diet Suppresses child s immune system making them more susceptible to disease and infection Childhood disease has decreased over the past 50 years due to increased immunizations for infants and children However about 20 of infants and toddlers in this country are not fully immunized Parents may not have the money or access to childcare Parents may be against vaccinations Some vaccines require 3 or 4 rounds and are simply never finished Idea of the hygiene hypothesis AMA determined that antibacterial products are not any more effective than hand washing with regular soap o May spur bacteria to develop resistance Early exposure to environmental risk factors helps prompt the immune system to develop and strengthen Artificially clean environments may make children more susceptible to ordinary diseases and infections Some researchers argue that it is necessary to develop a number of infections early in life o Childhood Injury