Health and Social Care

• Birth and Infancy (0-2)

  Infants grow rapidly reaching approximately half their adult height by the time they are two years old. At around one year old infants can walk and by the age of two they can run.
• Early Childhood (3-8)


  Children continue to grow at a steady pace. They continue to develop strength and coordination.
• Adolescence (9-18)


  Adolescents experience growth spurts. They develop sexual characteristics during puberty.
• Early Adulthood (19-45)


  Young adults reach the peak of their physical fitness.
• Middle Adulthood (46-65)


  The ageing process begins with some loss of strength and stamina. Women go through menopause.
• Later Adulthood (65+)


  The ageing process continues with gradual loss of mobility. Older adults will experience a loss of height of up to a dew centimeters.
• Growth


  An increase in some measured quantity such as height or weight.
• Development


  Complex changes including an increase in skills, abilities and capabilities.
• Centile Lines


  Lines on a graph used to show average measurements of height, weight and head circumference. They represent the values of the measurements taking into account age and sex.
• Development norms


  A description of an average set of expectations with respect to a young child's development. For example, by the age of 12 months a child has the ability to stand alone.
• Milestone


  An ability achieved by most children by a certain age. It can involve physical, social, emotional, cognitive and communication skills. For example, walking, sharing with others, expressing emotions, recognising familiar sounds and talking.
• Gross Motor Skills


  Large movements that involve using the large muscles of the body which are required for mobility. For example, rolling over.
• Gross Motor Skills

  Newborn

  Primitive reflexes such as grasp
• Gross Motor Skills

  1 Month


  Lifts chin, some control of head
• Gross Motor Skills

  3 Months


  Can lift their head and chest when lying on their front
• Gross Motor Skills

  6 Months


  Rolls over, can sit up for a short time without support, kicks legs when held up
• Gross Motor Skills

  9-10 Months


  Crawls, begins to cruise (walking while holding on to objects)
• Gross Motor Skills

  12-13 Months


  Stands alone, can walk without help
• Gross Motor Skills

  18 Months


  Climbs onto furniture
• Gross Motor Skills

  2 Years


  Propels a sit on toy with their feet, throws a large ball.
• Gross Motor Skills

  2 and a half years


  Jumps from a low step, kicks a ball
• Fine Motor Skills


  Involve smaller movements that require more precise direction and use smaller muscles. For example, picking up a pencil.
• Fine Motor Skills

  Newborn


  Holds their thumbs tucked into their hands
• Fine Motor Skills

  1 Month


  Opens hands to grasp a finger
• Fine Motor Skills

  3 Months


  Can briefly grasp a rattle
• Fine Motor Skills

  6 Months


  Moves objects from hand to hand, can pick up dropped toys if they are in sight.
• Fine Motor Skills

  9-10 Months


  Uses finger and thumb to hold a small object
• Fine Motor Skills

  12-13 Months


  Manipulates and places toys
• Fine Motor Skills

  18 Months


  Build a short tower with blocks
• Fine Motor Skills

  2 Years


  Draws lines and circles, turns a page
• Fine Motor Skills

  2 and a half years


  Uses a spoon and fork, builds a tower of 7-8 blocks
• Adolescence


  An important status change following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult
• Primary Sexual Characteristics

  Female


  The uterus enlarges and the vagina lengthens.

  The ovaries behind to release eggs.

  The menstrual cycle commences.
• Primary Sexual Characteristics

  Male

  Enlargement of penis and testes.

  Spontaneous erections caused by blood flowing into chambers in the penis may happen.

  The testicles begin to produce spermatozoa (sperm) beginning of ejaculation.
• Secondary Sexual Characteristics

  Female


  Breast develop and the areola swells and darkens.

  Hair grows in armpits and pubic area.

  Redistribution of body fat, causing hips to widen.
• Secondary Sexual Characteristics

  Male


  Changes in larynx causing voice to deepen.

  Hair grows in armpits and pubic are, facial hair.

  Redistribution of muscle tissue and fat.
• Puberty


  A period of rapid growth during which young people reach sexual maturity and become biologically able to reproduce and secondary sexual characteristics develop.
• Hormones


  Chemical substances produced in the body and transported in the blood steam that control or regulate body cells or body organs.
• Menopause


  The ending of female fertility, including the cessation of menstruation and reduction in production of female sex hormones.
• Life Expectancy


  An estimate of the number of years on average, that a person can expect to live. Sometimes called longevity.