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Infancy development stages - Coggle Diagram
Infancy development stages
Developmental Milestones
2 Months
Holds head up
Begins to push up when lying on stomach
6 Months
Rolls over (f2b, b2f)
Begins to sit without support
Supports weight on legs when standing
9 Months
Can stand if holding onto things
Sits without support
Pulls to standing
Crawls
12 Months
Gets to a sitting position without help
Pulls up to stand
Walks holding onto furniture "cruising"
May take a few steps without holding on
May be able to stand alone
18 Months
Can walk alone
Can walk and pull a toy along
Drinks from a cup
Eats with a spoon
2 Years
Kicks a ball
Begins to run
Climbs on and off furniture without help
Walks up and down the stairs holding on
Throws ball overhand
Percentiles
To compare physical characteristics such as a child's growth, weight and head circumference measurements with those of other children their age.
Physical Development
Growth
The infancy stage is the second fastest period of physical development in the lifespan.
Birthweight doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months
The six of an infants head decreases in proportion from 1/3 of the entire body at birth, to 1/4 at age 2, to 1/8 by adulthood.
During the first year an increase in the level of body fat will occur to allow body temperature to be maintained as the baby grows. This fat will eventually disappear.
During infancy body proportions start to change reflecting the cephalocaudal pattern of development (developing from the head onwards)
Bones begin to ossify and increase in size and weight to harden further to enable the child to support its own weight.
Changes to systems
The nervous system becomes more complex and fatty material called myelin allows messages to be transmitted more rapidly and efficiently. The senses continue to develop (even though vision is blurry) but soon the infant will be able to recognize familiar faces and sounds.
At birth the baby has a full set of primary teeth (10 in each jaw) hidden within the gums. These are known as baby, milk or deciduous teeth and the breaking of a tooth through the gumline is called an eruption. (also called teething) --> Generally a baby's first tooth comes through the gum between 6 - 9 months of age and the full set of primary teeth should appear by 3.
Newborn babies have around 300 bones, some of which are made of flexible cartilage to make a baby less prone to breaks when learning to crawl walk and run. Many of these bones fuse together as we age and by three leg bones are half of their eventual adult height.
Motor Skill Development
Reflex are automatic reactions to stimulation that enable infants to respond to the environment before any learning has taken place. Reflexes are gradually replaced by controlled movements and motor skills develop.
Motor development follows the proximodistal pattern. An infant reaches for a toy by using shoulder and torso rotation to move to move had closer to the object.
In childhood the elbow and wrist will be responsible for the main movements.
By the age of one many infants can stand and walk. By age two they can usually throw and kick a large ball.
Social Development
Relationships
The family is the most significant influence on social development at this stage of the lifespan. The infant is totally dependent on its parents or other caregivers and will learn certain social skills by observing these people.
Communication skills
The infant begins to smile around six weeks and after 6 months will begin to recognize facial expressions
Behaviors
Play forms an important part of interaction and social development. They enjoy games and respond increasingly.
Separation anxiety can begin at about 8 months old as the baby starts to become aware of themselves and other people. They may hide their faces or react strongly when parents leave for work.
An infant will start to mimic behaviors, communication and social interaction which means behaviors such as waving goodbye begin.
At around one year of age they may appear shy and will probably enjoy being around and observing rather than playing. They may cry if someone steals a toy but they haven't discovered empathy.
A child may be able to say thank you but not know the true meaning of the word until two and a half when they can link it to concepts and displaying mannors.
Emotional Development
Experiencing a range of emotions
Emotional attachment is formed with the caregivers within months and helps the infant to feel secure and build trust.
Separation anxiety usually peaks between 9 and 18 months and fades before their second birthday.
stranger anxiety is a reaction of distress when an infant encounters a stranger or unfamiliar things.
Emotional attachment
Breastfeeding promotes social and emotional attachment between the mother and child. The secretion of maternal hormones (e.g. oxytocin) helps with the development of this bond.
Oxytocin plays an important role in counteracting stress which allows both the mother and the baby to feel comfortable and relaxed.
Learning appropriate ways of emotion
By 8 months an infant can express anger and may become frustrated. This frustration may result in tantrum-throwing in later months.
By the age of 12 months an infant become sensitive to approval from parents or careers and may become distressed if this is not given.
Developing self-concept
Babies do not have the understanding that they exist as a separate person from their caregivers until they are around nine months old. At this stage they begin to experience separation anxiety.
Toddles become more self aware, can sense how others feel about them, which plays a vital role in their development. As they become more capable and aware their self-confidence in their own abilities grow.
Their sense of self is concreate and is based largely on what they can see and do. Preschoolers become more independent and see themselves as able to do things and have learned their minds are separate from others.
Intellectual development
Knowledge and memory
From the time of birth all senses are working and the baby capable of learning. Sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste are how a baby understand the world around them.
Within months the infant will recognise its name and respond when when called. Overtime these word-object association progresses and the infant will begin to recognise the names of favorite things. They will also begin to use simple gestures.
For a child to learn about things they need to be exposed to them as new interaction gives them information about the world and their place in it. Infancy also signifies an emerging understanding of cause and effect and associate certain actions with outcomes.
Language
As language develops infants can better interact with those around them. Language development is rapid in infancy and they will be able to say a couple basic words before the first birthday.
By 18 months the infant can imitate and pretend in play activities. by observing others the infant learns a lot about the world around it.
Reading aloud is important to building a child's vocabulary and boosting their imagination. When parents and other caregivers talk and interact with children in their first language it helps develop the ability to think and express themselves
Attention
the attention span of an infant is short and may only last a matter of seconds. The infant may give extra attention to games and objects it finds interesting but only for short periods of time.
thought patterns and problem solving
Around six months of age the infant can enjoy basic games. (e.g peekaboo) This reflects the process through which an infant begins to differentiate themselves from their primary caregiver.
At around six months of age, most infants have not grasped the concept of object permanence. In the mind of an infant an object that is out of sight no longer exists. As the infant develops intellectually they begin to understand that although it cannot be seen it still exists.
They can create an image or object in their mind and with it all the memories of them. They can feel the security of the object or persons presence while yet maintaining a separateness.
All infants need to access to a variety of simple play material that are suitable for their age. Water, sand, cardboard boxes are just as good as facilitating play and learning as those toys bought from a shop.
sometimes its helpful to give toys and activities that are beyond an infants abilities to encourage their development. When an activity doesn't come easily to an infant they need to find a new way to accomplish it.