-
Conception
During the first eight weeks of the mother's pregnancy, the tiny embryo in her uterus develops fingers, toes, eyes, a nose, a mouth, a heart, and a circulatory system. -
Actual Pregnancy
During the nine months of pregnancy, the embryo develops from a nearly mmicroscopic cell to a baby about 20 inches in length. A newborn weighs a billion or more times what it weighs at conception. -
Infancy/Childhood
During infancy, the period from birth to age two years, dramatic gains continue in height and weight. After infancy coms childhood, the period from two years to adolescence. -
Motor Development
The development of purposeful movement is called motor development. Milestones in infants and children's motor development are shown in figure 10.1
E.G. 4 months= Turns on stomach, 8 months=sit upright
and at 15 months= stands upright -
Reflexes
Rooting is another reflex that babies are born with. Because of the rooting reflex, babies turn toward stimuli that touch their heeks or the corners of their mouths, Babies also reflexively withdram from painful stimuli. They pull up their legs and arch their backs in response to sudden sounds or bumps. This is known as the Moro or "startle" reflex. -
Perceptual Development
For example, a study by Robert Fantz found that two month old infants preferred pictures of the human face to any other pictures, such as newsprint, a bull's eye, or colored disks without patterns. By 15 to 20 weeks, patterns begin to matter. Babies then to stare longer at face-like patterns. -
Attachments
Feelings of attachments are the emotional ties that form between people. Feelings of attachment keep people together. Since infants are basically helpless and are totally dependent on others to fulfill their needs, feelings of attachment are essential to survival. -
Secure versus Insecure Attachment
When caregivers are unresponsive or unreliable, the infants are usually insecurely attached. They don not seem to mind when caregivers leave them. When the caregivers return, the infants make little or no effort to seek contact with them. Some insecure infants may cry when picked up, as if they are angry with the caregiver. -
Self Esteem
Self esteem is value or worth that people attach to themselves. Self-esteem is important because it helps to protect people against the stresses and struggles of life. -
Unconditional Positive Regard
It means that parents love and accept their children for who they are- no matter how they behave. Children who receive unconditional positive regard usually high self-esteem. -
Styles of Parenting
Strictness can have positive and negative results, depending on how it is used. Strictness is not necessarily the same as meanness- as Hannah pointed out, parents can be strict but still love their children. Research suggests that consistent and firm enforcement of rules can foster achievement and self- control, especially when combined with warmth and support. But physical punishment or constant interference may lead to disobedience, and poor grades in school.