Learning aim A

• Principles of growth:

  Growth is variable across different parts of the body and is measured using height, weight and dimensions.
• Principles of development:

  Development follows an orderly sequence and is the the acquisition of skills and abilities.
• Percentile charts:

  Percentile charts are utilized to assess an individual's normal growth for their age, particularly in children, to ensure they are at the appropriate weight and height for their age.
• Birth and infancy:

  0-2 years
• Gross motor skills:

  The use of larger muscles in the body.
• Fine motor skills:

  This refers to the smaller movements that we make.
• Reflex:

  A reflex is a muscle reaction that happens automatically in response to stimulation.
• Rooting reflex:

  The baby turns their head in the direction of the touch, enabling them to find the nipple of the mother's breast to obtain food.
• Moro reflex:

  When startled, a baby will throw their arms and legs, then pulls them back with fingers curved.
• Grasp reflex:

  A baby will grasp an object placed in their hand.
• Secondary sexual characteristics:

  Secondary sexual characteristics develop during puberty. Secondary sexual characteristics in males include the growth of pubic hair, and facial hair and the voice deepens. Female secondary sexual characteristics include breasts develop, hips widen, and pubic hair begins to grow.
• Primary sexual characteristics:

  Birth features include external and internal genitalia, such as the penis and testes, vagina, and ovaries.
• What does the hypothalamus stimulate during puberty?

  During puberty, the hypothalamus stimulates GnRH release, which is necessary for sexual maturity and reproduction.
• What hormones does the anterior pituitary gland produce in females during puberty?

  In females, the anterior pituitary gland produces LH and FSH, which together stimulate the production of the sex hormones by the ovaries.
• What bodily changes do the ovaries initiate?

  The ovaries start to produce oestrogen and progesterone, which begin the bodily changes that happen during puberty. 
• What hormones does the pituitary gland produce in males during puberty?

  The pituitary gland in males produces LH and FSH, triggering the production of sex hormones.
• what do the testes produce, leading to the development of secondary sexual characteristics?

  The testes produce testosterone, causing the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
• What are the two sections of the pituitary gland?

  The pituitary gland has posterior and anterior sections.
• When does the ageing process start?

  It begins during early adulthood and is characterised by changes in skin, vision and reproductive capability.
• What happens when the female body approaches middle age?

  Oestrogen and progesterone begin to decrease in production.
• Piaget suggested that we understand the world around us by using schemas.
• A schema is a pattern of learning, linking perceptions, ideas and actions to make sense of the world.
• Piaget described it simply as the “way we see the world”.
• When a child’s experience matches what they understand they are in a state of equilibrium.
• If a child comes across a new situation or task that they do not understand, Piaget called this disequilibrium.
• Disequilibrium occurs when a child is unable to use existing schema to understand new information to make sense of objects and concepts.
• To enable understanding, Piaget suggested that new information is added to a current schema (assimilation) or the schema is a changed, or a new one is developed to improve understanding of the task (accommodation).
• Piaget believed that children pass through stages of development in a sequence which is universal and not predetermined by gender or culture.
• According to Piaget, children may go through these stages at different paces.
• Sensorimotor stage (0 - 2 years)
• During the sensorimotor stage, children learn by using their senses and through actions.
• Infants learn through using their reflexes and, according to Piaget, these are important for the development of schemas.
• Children learn that objects still exist even when out of sight (object permanence) from around 7-8 months of age.
• Pre-operational stage (2 - 7 years)
• Children are unable to see situations from the perspective of others, this is referred to as egocentrism by Piaget.
• The egocentric child assumes that the other person thinks and experiences situations in the same way that they do.
• Concrete operational stage (7 - 11 years)
• During the concrete operational stage, the child has learned to think logically if the concepts are familiar to them.
• Conservation refers to the ability to think logically to determine that a particular quantity will remain the same, even if there is a change in shape or size.
• Formal operations (11+ years)