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Physical Development Of The Physical Brain And Body

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Hereditary and environmental aspects are interconnected in the developmental of the physical brain and body (Berk & Meyers 2016, p.171). Physical development in early childhood is; awareness of space, body and movement (Rogers & Wright 2015, p. 24), development of motor capabilities and physical growth (Berk &Meyers 2016, p. 5). From birth to two years, children are experiencing physical change; size and weight, brain development and refinement of motor skills (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 5). The environment, social and genetic aspects all have an influence on the physical development of children (Tatiana et al. 2017, p. 1).

Physical development is motor development through stage-based milestones, where the progression of physical skills and …show more content…

As the size of the head is much greater than the rest of the body, the brain developments in a very quick pace (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 161). A majority of brain growth occurs rapidly in the early years of an infant’s life and is a crucial period in brain development (Fallik 2016, p. 7). During the first two years, children are forming neurons that store and communicate information and synapses (Berk & Meyers 2016, p.162).

Nature refers to inborn factors influencing physical development stated in Estourgie-van Burk 2006 (cited in Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 171). Genes are in chromosomes that contain a genetic code, which makes humans who we are (Berk & Meyers 2016, p.51). Chromosomal abnormalities also influence physical growth, such as children with Down syndrome have slower motor abilities (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 59) therefore having a significant impact on physical development. From birth, almost all children can learn to crawl, walk and grasp items (Berk & Meyers 2016, fig. 5.2). Berk and Meyers (2016, p. 171) considers the rate and growth of body size; height and weight are largely influenced by genetics as long as there are no significant negative impacts on the child.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ideas on child development were: children have a natural course of growth (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 13). Arnold Gesell modified Rousseau’s ideas which led to the development of the maturational model of development (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 13), where he believed that

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