FCT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZUBA

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION,
DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION
COURSE CODE: ECCE 121
COURSE TITLE: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
GROUP 13
S/NO NAMES MATRIC NO
1. ISHAKU JACINTA NCE/ED/18/1051
2. AKWE MAGARET NCE/ED/18/0362
3. JEMIMAH DANLAMI NCE/ED/18/0084
4. VINCENT FAITH NCE/ED/18/0406
5. MAGDALENE SAMUEL NCE/ED/18/0798
6. DAVID GIFT NCE/ED/18/1199
7. EJIRO SANDRA MONDAY NCE/ED/18/1023
8. UTOMBA OLUCHI PRECIOUS NCE/ED/18/0247
9. OYIBO ODAGYO SULU NCE/ED/18/0549
10. FATIMA USMAN NCE/ED/18/0030
11. REGINA BULUS NCE/ED/18/1742
12. HAJARA SULEIMAN NCE/ED/18/0961
13. HAFSAT UMAR NCE/ED/18/0778
14. SALIHU MUSA ABUBAKAR NCE/ED/18/1238
15. UMAR ZAINAB NCE/ED/18/0021
16. BIBISU ISMAIL DANJUMA NCE/ED/18/1976
17. AMOS ROSEMARY NCE/ED/18/1999
18. OLAJIDE FAUSAT NCE/ED/18/0338
19. IBRAHIM AISHA .I. NCE/ED/18/0607
20. ENDURANCE MOSES NCE/ED/18/1433
21. SULEIMAN AISHA NCE/ED/18/0922
22. YAKUBU FATIMA NCE/ED/18/2063
23. ELEBEKE CHINAZA MIRACLE NCE/ED/18/0867
24. JENNIFER LIVINUS UFUWAI NCE/ED/18/0467
25. HALIDU FATIMA NCE/ED/18/1946
26. HARUNA SALIHU NCE/ED/18/1529
27. MUHAMMED ABUBAKAR ADEMOLA NCE/ED/18/0987
28. GAMBO HASFAT MUSA NCE/ED/18/1055
29. BILKISU DANJUMA ISMAIL NCE/ED/18/1976
30. JIBRIN MARYAM LADID NCE/ED/18/15617
 31. DEBORAH JEREMIAH NCE/ED/18/1346
32. AKINPELU DAMILOLA NCE/ED/18/1075
33. SALIHU AMINA NCE/ED/18/1240
34. ABDULWASIU SULIQAT NCE/ED/18/0974
35. MOHAMMED LOZIZA NCE/ED/18/1005
36. HUSSAINI JAMILA NCE/ED/18/0322
37. ZAINAB ZAKARI NCE/ED/18/1150
38. NUHU NAJA ATU NCE/ED/18/1308
39. SADIYA YUNUSA NCE/ED/18/1419

QUESTION: Discuss the stages of physical development with examples.

Introduction to Physical Development
Physical development is divided into two areas, growth and development.
Growth is the physical changes of, the increase in size, height and weight.
Development is how children gain control over their physical actions to do
complicated and difficult activities more skilfully and easily. Growth and
development areFrom the moment we are born until the moment we die, we
continue to develop.
As discussed at the beginning of this chapter, developmental psychologists
often divide our development into three areas: physical development, cognitive
development, and psychosocial development. Mirroring Erikson’s stages, lifespan
development is divided into different stages that are based on age. We will discuss
prenatal, infant, child, adolescent, and adult development.
Human Growth & Development
 Physical Development
 Fine motor skills
 Gross motor skills
 Physical Development Activities
 Intellectual Development
 Emotional Development
 Social Development
 Development Activities
Prenatal Development
How did you come to be who you are? From beginning as a one-cell
structure to your birth, your prenatal developmentoccurred in an orderly and
delicate sequence.
 There are three stages of prenatal development: germinal, embryonic, and
fetal. Let’s take a look at what happens to the developing baby in each of these
stages.
Germinal Stage (Weeks 1–2)
In the discussion of biopsychology earlier in the book, you learned about
genetics and DNA. A mother and father’s DNA is passed on to the child at the
moment of conception. Conception occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg and forms
a zygote. A zygote begins as a one-cell structure that is created when a sperm and
egg merge. The genetic makeup and sex of the baby are set at this point. During
the first week after conception, the zygote divides and multiplies, going from a
one-cell structure to two cells, then four cells, then eight cells, and so on. This
process of cell division is called mitosis. Mitosis is a fragile process, and fewer
than one-half of all zygotes survive beyond the first two weeks (Hall, 2004). After
5 days of mitosis there are 100 cells, and after 9 months there are billions of cells.
As the cells divide, they become more specialized, forming different organs and
body parts. In the germinal stage, the mass of cells has yet to attach itself to the
lining of the mother’s uterus. Once it does, the next stage begins.
Embryonic Stage (Weeks 3–8)
After the zygote divides for about 7–10 days and has 150 cells, it travels
down the fallopian tubes and implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Upon
implantation, this multi-cellular organism is called an embryo. Now blood vessels
grow, forming the placenta. The placenta is a structure connected to the uterus that
provides nourishment and oxygen from the mother to the developing embryo via
the umbilical cord. Basic structures of the embryo start to develop into areas that
will become the head, chest, and abdomen. During the embryonic stage, the heart
begins to beat and organs form and begin to function. The neural tube forms along
the back of the embryo, developing into the spinal cord and brain.
Fetal Stage (Weeks 9–40)
When the organism is about nine weeks old, the embryo is called a fetus. At
this stage, the fetus is about the size of a kidney bean and begins to take on the
recognizable form of a human being as the “tail” begins to disappear. From 9–12
weeks, the sex organs begin to differentiate. At about 16 weeks, the fetus is
approximately 4.5 inches long. Fingers and toes are fully developed, and
fingerprints are visible. By the time the fetus reaches the sixth month of
development (24 weeks), it weighs up to 1.4 pounds. Hearing has developed, so the
fetus can respond to sounds. The internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, stomach,
and intestines, have formed enough that a fetus born prematurely at this point has a
chance to survive outside of the mother’s womb. Throughout the fetal stage the
brain continues to grow and develop, nearly doubling in size from weeks 16 to 28.
Around 36 weeks, the fetus is almost ready for birth. It weighs about 6 pounds and
is about 18.5 inches long, and by week 37 all of the fetus’s organ systems are
developed enough that it could survive outside the mother’s uterus without many
of the risks associated with premature birth. The fetus continues to gain weight and
grow in length until approximately 40 weeks. By then, the fetus has very little
room to move around and birth becomes imminent.
Recall that when the zygote attaches to the wall of the mother’s uterus, the
placenta is formed. The placenta provides nourishment and oxygen to the fetus.
Most everything the mother ingests, including food, liquid, and even medication,
travels through the placenta to the fetus, hence the common phrase “eating for
two.” Anything the mother is exposed to in the environment affects the fetus; if the
mother is exposed to something harmful, the child can show life-long effects.
A teratogen is any environmental agent—biological, chemical, or physical—that
causes damage to the developing embryo or fetus. There are different types of
teratogens. Alcohol and most drugs cross the placenta and affect the fetus. Alcohol
is not safe to drink in any amount during pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy
has been found to be the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in
children in the United States (Maier & West, 2001). Excessive maternal drinking
while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders with life-long
consequences for the child ranging in severity from minor to major.
During the fatal stage, the baby’s brain develops and the body adds size and
weight, until the fetus reaches full-term development.
Prenatal Influences
During each prenatal stage, genetic and environmental factors can affect
development. The developing fetusis completely dependent on the mother for life.
It is important that the mother takes good care of herself and receives prenatal
care, which is medical care during pregnancy that monitors the health of both the
mother and the fetus. According to the National Institutes of Health ([NIH],
2013), routine prenatal care is important because it can reduce the risk of
complications to the mother and fetus during pregnancy. In fact, women who are
trying to become pregnant or who may become pregnant should discuss
pregnancy planning with their doctor. They may be advised, for example, to take
a vitamin containing folic acid, which helps prevent certain birth defects, or to
monitor aspects of their diet or exercise routines.
Physical development is divided into fine motor skills and gross motor
skills. Physical Development in Children and Adolescents Physical development
is the most readily visible of the child development domains. Parents notice
height and weight as well as the development of both fine motor and gross (large)
motor skills. It’s important to remember that what we can see physically
corresponds to what we can’t see which is brain development. In all
developmental domains, the brain is promoting exploration and movement but
when exploration and movement occur it also stimulates brain development
 including both neurogenesis (growth of new brain cells) and synaptogenesis
(forming new connections between brain cells). In fact at various times during
the first few years of life, a baby’s brain produces so many connections that they
end up with more than in an adult brain. Later through a process called pruning,
synaptic connections that are not used by the child are eliminated.
Parents play an important role in all of the developmental domains and
physical development is equally important. Parent’s bonding with their child
develops a sense of feeling safe to explore and positive feedback encourages a
child to reach out more and push harder. Parents also provide guidance and
support through a process known as “scaffolding”. Providing objects to
encourage a baby to reach and grasp, holding the hands of a toddler while they
take a few steps, teaching potty training, help a child with buttoning and zipping
clothing, helping them learn to ride a bike and playing catch are just a few
examples of how parents provide scaffolding to help children develop physical
abilities. In addition to encouraging and teaching specific skills, parents should
promote a healthy lifestyle for their children. This includes helping them to get
adequate sleep, eat a well-balanced diet and stay active physically. In this
endeavour, the best approach for parents to take is to model the behaviour as well
as teach and encourage these very important health habits. Teaching safety and
maintaining a safe home environment (especially in the early years) is also very
important. Keeping up with regular check-ups and keeping immunizations up to
date is important as well. If you are concerned about possible delays in your
child’s physical development we suggest you use the American Academy of
Paediatrics: Motor Delay Tool and then discuss any concerns you have with your
paediatrician.
Physical Developmental Milestones
 Birth to Six Months Gross (Large) Motor Skills Lifts head and chest when
on the stomach. Rolls from back to side or side to back. Rolls completely over
from back or stomach. Sits with support. Holds head erect. Can raise him/herself
up on forearms (while on tummy) and hold head up Rolls from back to tummy (by
4-6 months) Fine (Small) Motor Skills Reaches for objects. Holds objects for short
periods of time before dropping them. Touches and pats bottle. Usually responds
to objects or faces as they move Plays with fingers, hands, and toes Holds and
manipulates objects; sucks on everything! Six to 12 Months Gross (Large) Motor
Skills Progresses from sitting steady when supported to sitting without support.
Crawls on hands and knees. Pulls to standing position. Walks with help. Stands
alone. Learns to crawl, stand up and walk Sits without support (by 8 months)
Begins to cruise and eventually walk Develops eye-hand coordination Fine
(Small) Motor Skills Reaches for small objects. Places objects in a container.
Picks up medium and large objects. Changes objects from one hand to
another. Plays with two toys; one in each hand. Points with fingers. Transfers toys
from hand to hand Sees almost everything with good vision Develops eye-hand
coordination 12 to 18 Months Gross (Large) Motor Skills Stands alone. Walks
without support; starting and stopping with control. Walks backward with a pull
toy. Runs stiffly. Squats down to pick up an object and stands up. Climbs up
stairs; creeps down backward one at a time. Climbs out of the crib and playpen.
Can throw a ball Walks well Can walk while holding an object Fine (Small)
Motor Skills Turns several pages of a book at one time. Scribbles on paper with
crayon. Releases ball with slight thrust. Picks up small objects between thumb and
forefinger. Can open a small box. Holds a spoon with a fist. Feeds self with
fingers. Holds and drinks from a cup. Picks up small objects with pointer finger
and thumb Can build a tower of cubes Turns pages in a book title=”Toddler (18 m
– 3y)”] 18 To 24 Months Gross (Large) Motor Skills Runs stiffly.
Conclusion
The definitions of the three stages of development are based on both
research and cultural influences. Implications for schooling are drawn from what is
known about how children develop, but it should be emphasized that growth is
influenced by context, and schooling is a primary context of childhood. Just as
educators and others should be aware of the ways in which a five-year-old's
reasoning is different from a fifteen-year-old's, it is also important to be aware that
the structure and expectations of schooling influence the ways in which children
grow and learn.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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