PYC4805 EXAM PREP CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2022

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Question 1: Competency of newborns and infants From the outset, display many complex abilities. Consider how these capabilities contribute to the formation of he first social relationships during th ... e newborn period and infancy. - Discuss the nature of the infants capabilities - Relate the characteristics of newborns and infants to their skilled and capable nature - Indicate how these capabilities may contribute to the forming of social relationships with parents, caregivers, siblings, and adults. Introduction The developmental changes that occur during the first year of a child’s life represents infancy. Infants display an inherent drive to master and explore their world. Many theorists believe that newborns are born with few or no abilities; however, they are born with a plethora of capabilities to ensure not only their survival, but also elicit awareness and concern from adults. Studies have proven that infants are equipped with abilities that make them “skilled, capable beings”. The developmental rate during infancy is noteworthy, as they develop at a rate faster than any other stage in an individual’s development. Infants display early reflexes, the ability to quickly master motor skills, and perceptual capacities. This essay will discuss primary responses that are common to infants regardless of their environment. Reflexes According to Berk (2013), reflexes are considered inborn, automatic responses to stimuli. The presence of certain reflexes are considered to be integral indicators of the responsiveness of the nervous system. Infants are born with various reflexes to enhance the neonates survival rate. The rooting reflex enables the baby to find and attach to the nipple during breastfeeding. Their sucking reflex adjusts to accommodate the flow of milk from the nipple. When in water, their swimming reflex helps them stay afloat. The moro reflex, or embracing reflex, researchers believe help the baby grasp onto their primary caregivers, this will aid bonding. During breast feeding the baby turns their head towards the mother’s nipple, and when the baby attaches well, the mother may experience a sense of accomplishment and competence. When babies struggle to latch or drink well, mothers often feel distressed, which could be a hinderance to bonding. Other reflexes allow infants and their parents to develop gratifying interactions, and some form the foundation of complex motor skills. As the cerebral cortex develops, infants are able to gradually increase their voluntary control over their behaviour. This means that most newborn reflexes disappear during the first six months of development. States Sleep Infants spend majority of their time asleep, and move through 5 states of arousal.. Newborn babies spend 50% of their sleeping time in the rapid-eye-movement state (REM) cycle, which is crucial for growth of the Central Nervous System. If there is an absence of organised transition from REM to non-REM sleep, it means the infants brain cycles are disturbed and could be an early indicator of brain damage. When infants engage in disorganised sleep patterns, their will display disorganised behaviour and find learning difficult. Babies develop a 24 hour sleep-wake pattern, and cultural values, in particular individualism and collectivism, influences the sleeping patterns. When infants sleep for longer periods of time, parental care will be sensitive and responsive because they too are well rested. If babies are aroused, or cry more, it places great strain on the parents, as they have to spend much energy soothing them. When the parents are unable to do this, they might become demotivated and feel less competent, which will impact attachment between primary caregivers and the child. Crying Crying is the infants only means of initial communication. It forms part of their survival instincts.. Infants usually cry because one of their biological needs are not being met, mostly in response to hunger. Babies also cry due to sudden changes in their immediate surroundings such as temperature, sudden sounds or a painful stimulus. Babies often also cry in response to hearing another baby crying which reflects their inborn capacity to respond to others pain. Crying often arouse feelings of discomfort in adults, which some researchers believe speaks to the human’s capacity to ensure that babies are cared for and protected. All babies become fussy at one stage or another, but most of the time the nature of the cry combined with previous experience helps parents understand its underlying cause When parents are unable to differentiate the rationale behind the cry, they are less in tune and display worrisome infant care which will impact the behaviour the baby may display as a toddler. When crying is promptly attended to, the bay will cry less over time. When the caregiver brings the baby in close contact, as a means to soothe, the caregiver unknowingly encourages the baby to develop other means of communication. In some cases, crying does not invoke caring behaviour from adults. When a baby is colicky, have birth complications or brain damage they may have shrill or piercing crying patterns, and the parents may become frustrated and resentful towards the baby due to lack of sleep. Learning capacities Babies are born with the ability to learn, and learn by means of classical conditioning or operant conditioning. Classical conditioning Two stimuli are linked together, one conditioned to evoke a response and the other neutral, to result a conditioned response. Babies are easily classically conditioned when the association between the two stimuli has survival value. Classical conditioning help babies to recognize actions and patterns so that they can predict what will happen next. Operant conditioning The infant exhibits a particular behaviour, and the stimuli that follows the behaviour (the reaction of the caregivers) will determine the probability of the infant repeating the behaviour. When the stimuli increase the probability, the stimulus is considered a reinforcer. A punitive stimulus will decrease the probability of the behaviour. This type of learning plays a crucial role in the formation of social relationships. When the behaviour of the caregiver and the baby influences or reinforces the other, it generates a stronger infant-caregiver attachment to [Show More]

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