Physical Development
Physical development is just one of the many different developmental domains that a person goes through from childhood to adulthood. Physical development has its own separate categories such as brain development, motor development, sensation and perception, body growth and changes, and nutrition. There are many central issues in regards to physical development at all ages and how each categories effects the others.
Brain Development
There are two common misconceptions when it comes to brain development. The first misconception is that humans only use 10% of their brain, but in fact we use all parts of our brain. The second misconception is that what we think has little to do with how our bodies function and our thoughts. Development begins with the billions of neurons that send messages called neurotransmitters to the other nerve cells called axons. Infants brains are more active than adults' brains because they are so busy forming connections in the brain, these connections continue on through adulthood.
There are two common misconceptions when it comes to brain development. The first misconception is that humans only use 10% of their brain, but in fact we use all parts of our brain. The second misconception is that what we think has little to do with how our bodies function and our thoughts. Development begins with the billions of neurons that send messages called neurotransmitters to the other nerve cells called axons. Infants brains are more active than adults' brains because they are so busy forming connections in the brain, these connections continue on through adulthood.
Motor Development
Motor development begins with a babies first movement of reflexes. The myelination of the nervous system plays a large role in determining the sequence in which motor development is achieved. There are other factors such as physical activity that influences the development of motor skills as well. Reflexes are the patterned, involuntary motor responses that are controlled by the lower brain centers. These reflexes are hardwired into a newborn's nervous system so they don't need to be learned. There is a continuum that represents different mixes of reflexive and voluntary behavior that we see as motor development proceeds. In motor development there is two forms of motor skills; gross motor and fine motor. Gross motor development involves skills that deal with large muscle groups such as legs and arms, where as fine motor development involves sills that deal with small movements, mostly of the hands and fingers, but also include the lips and tongue. The timing of motor development interacts with other areas of development. Such areas like physical development is important fro children and teens at all ages. Overall motor development is a combination of genes, maturation, and environmental experiences.
Motor development begins with a babies first movement of reflexes. The myelination of the nervous system plays a large role in determining the sequence in which motor development is achieved. There are other factors such as physical activity that influences the development of motor skills as well. Reflexes are the patterned, involuntary motor responses that are controlled by the lower brain centers. These reflexes are hardwired into a newborn's nervous system so they don't need to be learned. There is a continuum that represents different mixes of reflexive and voluntary behavior that we see as motor development proceeds. In motor development there is two forms of motor skills; gross motor and fine motor. Gross motor development involves skills that deal with large muscle groups such as legs and arms, where as fine motor development involves sills that deal with small movements, mostly of the hands and fingers, but also include the lips and tongue. The timing of motor development interacts with other areas of development. Such areas like physical development is important fro children and teens at all ages. Overall motor development is a combination of genes, maturation, and environmental experiences.
Sensation and Perception
The brain and senses predisposes babies to form the all important attachments to caregivers. Sensations refer to the information from the environment that is packed up by our sense organs; vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. It is in fact the brain that puts the sensory information that it receives together so that it attaches meaning to the information and interpretation in the real world. That process is done through perception which is when you interpret and attach meaning to sensory information.
The brain and senses predisposes babies to form the all important attachments to caregivers. Sensations refer to the information from the environment that is packed up by our sense organs; vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. It is in fact the brain that puts the sensory information that it receives together so that it attaches meaning to the information and interpretation in the real world. That process is done through perception which is when you interpret and attach meaning to sensory information.
Body Growth and Changes
The human body changes in so many different ways from childhood to adulthood. Body proportions change from a large head and small body to a full grown adult body. During childhood bones lengthen, muscles strengthen, and baby teeth are replaced. Both gross motor and fine motor skills also continue to develop, as well as other bodily changes such as puberty and sexual maturity. Growth during infancy and until age 2 is considered very rapid, yet it doesn't stop there. As children approach adolescence, growth hormones work together with sex hormones and produce a rapid increase in all areas of development. Furthering more into sexual development, some of the most dramatic physical changes occur when children enter adolescence and go through a stage called puberty which is described as the physical changes that occur in adolescence that make an individual capable of sexual reproduction.
The human body changes in so many different ways from childhood to adulthood. Body proportions change from a large head and small body to a full grown adult body. During childhood bones lengthen, muscles strengthen, and baby teeth are replaced. Both gross motor and fine motor skills also continue to develop, as well as other bodily changes such as puberty and sexual maturity. Growth during infancy and until age 2 is considered very rapid, yet it doesn't stop there. As children approach adolescence, growth hormones work together with sex hormones and produce a rapid increase in all areas of development. Furthering more into sexual development, some of the most dramatic physical changes occur when children enter adolescence and go through a stage called puberty which is described as the physical changes that occur in adolescence that make an individual capable of sexual reproduction.
Nutrition
Growth and development can not be achieved without healthy nutrient for infants, children and adults. It's important to start babies off on a healthy start and to continue the healthy diet in childhood and adulthood. There are some difficulties that come to with nutrition such as malnourishment, obesity or eating disorders. Most infants begin with breastfeeding or bottle feeding with formula. This offers benefits to both the baby and mother by providing the baby with antibodies that come from the mother's body and help off infections. There are certain circumstances where breastfeeding isn't recommended, yet bottle feeding with formula is still a healthy alternative. The food pyramid is a great image for children to follow when growing up. Children who get off to a good start with a diet full of healthy foods benefits not only in childhood but through adulthood as well. It's necessary to support certain periods of rapid growth that occur over the lifespan of development.
Growth and development can not be achieved without healthy nutrient for infants, children and adults. It's important to start babies off on a healthy start and to continue the healthy diet in childhood and adulthood. There are some difficulties that come to with nutrition such as malnourishment, obesity or eating disorders. Most infants begin with breastfeeding or bottle feeding with formula. This offers benefits to both the baby and mother by providing the baby with antibodies that come from the mother's body and help off infections. There are certain circumstances where breastfeeding isn't recommended, yet bottle feeding with formula is still a healthy alternative. The food pyramid is a great image for children to follow when growing up. Children who get off to a good start with a diet full of healthy foods benefits not only in childhood but through adulthood as well. It's necessary to support certain periods of rapid growth that occur over the lifespan of development.