Infancy- Physical Development Birth to 1 Late Childhood-Physical Development 6-12

year years of age

 Most dramatic & rapid changes in growth &  AKA preadolescence
development occur during the 1st year of life  Muscle coordination is well developed
 Newborns usually weigh 6-8 lbs and measure 18-22”  Can engage in physical activities that require
 By end of 1st year, weight usually triples to 21-24 lbs complex motor-sensory coordination
Infancy- Physical Development  Most primary teeth are lost, permanent teeth erupt 
 Muscular & nervous systems are immature During ages 10-12 secondary sexual characteristics
 Reflex actions allow infant to respond to the develop
environment: Late Childhood-Mental Development
1. Moro (startle) reflex=response to a loud noise or  Life centers around school
sudden movement  Speech skills develop more completely; reading &
2. Rooting reflex=slight touch on a cheek causes the writing skills are learned
mouth to open & head to turn  Learn to use info to solve problems; memory
3. Sucking reflex=caused by a slight touch on the lips becomes more complex
4. Grasp reflex=grasp an object placed in the hand  Begin to understand abstract concepts: loyalty,
 2-4 months=roll from side to back, support honesty, values, morals
themselves on their forearms when prone, & grasp or  Use active thinking & become more adept at making
try to reach objects judgements
 4-6 months=turn the body completely around, Adolescence-Physical Development 12-18
accept objects handed to them, grasp stationary years of age
objects such as bottle, hold head up while sitting  Physical changes occur most dramatically in
 6-8 months=sit unsupported, grasp moving objects, the early period
transfer objects from one hand to the other, crawl on
 Muscle coordination is slower than growth
the stomach
Infancy- Physical Development Milestones:
leading to awkwardness or clumsiness
 8-10 months=crawl using hands & knees, pull to  Puberty=development of sexual organs &
sitting/standing, good hand-mouth coordination  12 secondary sexual characteristics
months=walk, grasp objects with thumb & fingers,  Onset of menstruation in girls; production of
throw small objects, have10-12 teeth, good color vision sperm & semen in boys
Infancy-Cognitive Development  Secondary sexual characteristics in
 Respond to discomforts such as pain, cold, or females=pubic hair, breasts, wider hips,
hunger by crying distribution of fat leading to female shape
 As their needs are met, they gradually become more  Secondary sexual characteristics in
aware of their surroundings & begin to recognize
males=pubic, facial, & body hair; deeper voice,
individuals associated with their care
 2-4 months=coo or babble, laugh out loud, squeal
more muscle mass & broader shoulders
with pleasure Adolescence Cognitive Development
 6 months=understand some words & can make  Increase in knowledge & sharpening of skills
basic sounds such as “mama” & “dada”  Learn to make decisions & to accept
 12 months=understand many words & use single responsibility for their actions
words in their vocabularies  Conflicts occur because they are treated as
both children & adults-being told to “grow up”
Early Childhood-Physical Development 1-6 years of while being reminded that they are “still children”
age Early Adulthood-Physical Development 19-40
 Muscle coordination allows child to run, climb, &
years old
move freely
 As muscles of fingers develop, child learns how to
 Most productive life stage
write, draw, & use fork/knife  Physical development is basically complete
 2-3 years=most teeth have erupted  Muscles are developed & strong, motor
 2-4 years=learn bladder/bowel control coordination is at its peak
Early Childhood Cognitive Development  Prime childbearing years
 2-year-olds have short attention spans but are
interested in many activities and can remember details
& begin to understand concepts
 4-year-olds ask frequent questions & usually
recognize letters & some words; begin to make
decisions based on logic rather than on trial & error
Early Adulthood-Mental Development
 By age 6, they are very verbal with vocab of 1,500-
2,500 words & want to read & write; memory has  Deals with independence
developed to where they can make decisions on both  Makes career choices
past & present experiences  Establishes a lifestyle
 Selects a marital partner
 Starts a family
 Establishes values

Middle Adulthood-Physical Development 40-

65 years old
 AKA middle age
 Hair tends to gray and thin
 Skin begins to wrinkle, muscle tone decreases
 Hearing loss starts, visual acuity declines,
weight gain occurs
 Menopause=end of menstruation
 Male climacteric=slowing of male hormone
production
Middle Adulthood-Mental Development
 Mental ability continues to increase during
middle age
 Individuals have acquired an understanding of
life & learned to cope with many different stresses
 Confident decision makers
 Excel at analyzing situations

Late Adulthood-Physical Development

65 years and older
AKA elderly, senior citizen, golden ager, retired
citizen
Physical development is on the decline and
includes:
 Skin becomes dry, wrinkled, & thinner w/ brown
(age) spots
 Hair becomes thin & loses its luster or shine
 Bones become brittle & porous and are more
likely to break
 Cartilage between vertebrae thins & can lead to
stooping
 Muscles lose tone and strength
 Hearing loss, decreased visual acuity,
decreased tolerance for temperatures that are too
hot/cold
 Memory loss
 Breathing capacity decreases & causes SOB
 Changes usually occur slowly over a long
period & many people don’t show physical
changes until 70’s or 80’s
Late Adulthood-Mental Development
 Short-term memory is usually first to decline
 Alzheimer’s disease=irreversible loss of
memory, deterioration of intellectual functions,
speech & gait disturbances, and disorientation
 Arteriosclerosis=thickening & hardening of
artery walls that can cause decrease of blood to
brain and a decrease in mental abilities