PSYC 205 Lecture Notes - Spatial Cognition
Importance of studying growth and motor development -
Expectations we have for kids
oTo be able to know what is reasonable to expect from a child, we must know what is
typical of children at a certain age
oFor this, we also need to keep in mind that there is variability among children
Variability between kids of same age
Variability between kids of different age
Variability in the same kid over different periods of time
Can help us develop screening tools
oKnowing what's typical and atypical can help us develop screening tools to detect if
something is abnormal
Can help study others' perception of children
oA tall and motorically advanced child might be perceived as more developed, strong,
mature as compared to a small/motorically delayed child
And also implications of it for these individuals
oEarly and late maturers and the difference between girls and boys in maturation
oFor early maturing boys and late maturing girls, they have fewer problems and for early
maturing girls and late maturing boys, have more problems
Children are developing in multiple areas - they are complex systems
oGrowth and motor development interact with other aspects of the system
3 General Characteristics of Growth & Motor Development
1. Proximal -> Distal Progression - development from the center outwards - in babies their
hearts and chests are formed first, then arm buds, and then fingers. First act carried out by
children is sitting up which uses a lot of muscles in the center of the body
2. Cephalocaudal Progression - from head downwards - things closer to the head develop
first and is seen after birth too - children's legs are the last thing to develop into adult size
3. Increased differentiation - when young infants try reaching, they move their hands
however they want but as they grow older, they learn to shape their hands and angle it in the
direction they want something to reach
Physical Growth
Rates of Growth
oFrom birth to 2 - most rapid postnatal growth and gives a rough indicator of the child's
height in the future
oPrior to puberty, growth rates are pretty similar for boys and girls
oOnset of puberty is 2 years earlier for girls than boys
There is a pubertal growth spurt among boys and girls which shows a gain in
height and weight
Girls Boys
Average onset - age 9 Avg onset - Age 11
Range of onset - 8 to 13 Range of onset - 9.5 to 13.5
Peak growth rate occurs - 11 to 14/15 Peak growth rate - 13 to 17
Growth ends - age 19 Growth ends - 21
Changes in proportion
oFor infants, head dominates - we saw the fetuses had a really big head but during
growth spurt, extremities catch up
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Document Summary
Importance of studying growth and motor development - To be able to know what is reasonable to expect from a child, we must know what is typical of children at a certain age o. For this, we also need to keep in mind that there is variability among children. Variability in the same kid over different periods of time. Can help us develop screening tools o. Knowing what"s typical and atypical can help us develop screening tools to detect if something is abnormal. Can help study others" perception of children: a tall and motorically advanced child might be perceived as more developed, strong, mature as compared to a small/motorically delayed child. And also implications of it for these individuals o o. Early and late maturers and the difference between girls and boys in maturation. For early maturing boys and late maturing girls, they have fewer problems and for early maturing girls and late maturing boys, have more problems.
