Pedia (Definition of Terms)

• Abstract thought - capable of thinking in terms of possibility rather than limited to thinking about what already is
• Accommodation - taking in information and changing it to fix their existing ideas
• Animism – Animals and inanimate objects as being capable of thought and feelings also known as magical thinking
• Assimilation - taking in information and changing it to fix their existing ideas
• Conservation – the ability to discern truth, even though physical properties change
• Centering –the ability to see only one of the object’s characteristics
• Development - Indicates an increase in skill or the ability to function
• Growth - Increase in the number and size of cells; measured in terms of quantity; orderly and predictable but not even
• Developmental task – a skill or a growth responsibility arising at a particular time in an individual’s life, the achievement of which will provide a foundation for the accomplishment of future tasks
• Reversibility –the ability to retrace steps
• Theory - a systematic statement of principles that provides a framework for explaining some phenomenon
• Maturation - It means development of those cells until they are ready to function
• Schemas – They are the finer units of each stage of cognitive development according to Piaget
• Role fantasy –how preschoolers would like something to turn out
• Permanence - infants learn objects in the environment – their bottle, blocks, their bed, or even a parent – are permanent and continue to exist even though they are out of sight or changed in some way
• Sensorimotor intelligence - is practical intelligence during infancy, because words and symbols for thinking and problem solving are not yet available at this early age
• Temperament - the usual reaction pattern of an individual or an individual’s characteristic manner of thinking, behaving or reacting to stimuli in the environment. It is an inborn characteristic
• Binocular vision – the ability to fuse two images as one at 2 months
• Baby-Bottle Syndrome – also known as infant caries. Tooth decay that occurs while an infant sleeps liquid from the propped bottle continuously soaks the upper front teeth and lower back teeth
• Colic - paroxysmal abdominal pain that generally occurs in infants under 3 months of age and is marked by loud, intense crying
• Diaper Dermatitis - Also known as diaper rash, when child’s diaper is not frequently changed, feces is left in contact with skin, and irritation may result in the perianal area
• Miliaria - or prickly heat rash. Clusters of pinpoint, reddened papules with occasional vesicles and pustules surrounded by erythema
• Milk teeth – It is the first baby tooth (typically a central incisor) usually erupts at age 6 months
• Parachute reaction - When infants are suddenly lowered toward an examining table from ventral suspension, the arms extend as if to protect themselves from falling
• Physiologic anemia – condition present at 2 to 3 months of age. This occurs because the life of a red cell is 4 months so the cells the child had at birth are disintegrating, but new cells are not yet being produced in adequate replacement numbers
• Solitary play – or the independent play; when infants play alone
• Ventral suspension – The position of an infant when held in midair on a horizontal plane, supported by a hand under the abdomen
• Egocentrism – tendency to see things only from his own point of view
• Genetics - The science concerned with heredity and variation in organisms.
• Magical thinking – belief that thoughts can influence events
• Congenital heart defects - structural problems with the heart present since birth
• Eczema - inflammation of the epidermis characterized by redness, itching, dryness, scaling, cracks, oozing, weeping, blister formation, and sometimes infection.
• Object permanence - refers to an infant’s understanding that things still exist when he cannot see them
• Conservation - it is the ability to understand that certain quantities remain constant despite changes in appearance.
• Socialization - The process by which children acquire the values, attitudes, skills, and behaviors that enable them to become members of society.
• Psychomotor development - refers to the physical aspects of behavior such as movement, coordination, balance, strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, and body control.
• Pica – eating nonfood items such as dirt, paint chips, hair, etc.
• Deferred imitation – Toddlers are able to remember an action and imitate it later
• Discipline - It is setting rules and road signs so children know what is expected of them
• Lordosis – It is the forward curve of the spine at the sacral area seen in toddlers