Essay on developmental psychology

Developmental milestone

This is a term used to refer to the various timelines in which children acquire specific skills. For instance, babies will acquire sitting, standing, or even speaking at almost specific times. This is what is referred to as developmental milestone

Developmental continuum

This term refers to the range of skills or behaviors in children that are characteristic of any given area of development. For instance, children at a given age are expected to develop some given skills. This means that in a given area of development, children will be expected to exhibit a given behavior, which is considered normal in that particular bracket.

Normal development

Commonly known as typical development, implies the natural process of growing and acquiring skills as one grows older. It’s like the ideal way of growing up. Psychologists however, agree that what is normal development for one child may not be normal for another, since normal development is majorly affected by factors outside the biological growth process such as culture, values and norms of a given society

Developmental delay

This refers to a time lapse that may exist in between developmental milestones. Normally, a child should be able to sit, at an average of 6 months. A child who takes more than a year to develop this skill can be said to have delays in development.

Atypical development

This is the opposite of normal, or typical development. In this case, the child does not follow the normal development continuum, or what may be said to be a conventional growth process, but displays differences from others at a given development milestone.

Biological risk

This is a risk suffered by infants who have undergone accidents, significant levels of stress or even injury. Other illnesses that could be considered as biological risks include low birth weight, deformed chromosomal development among others. These negatively affect the normal development of the child.

People-first language

This is a ‘ respectful’ language used to refer to people with disabilities. In this language, the speaker refers to the person with the disability first, and then the disability later. For instance, it’s deemed more respectful and humane to say, a child with autism, rather than to say,’an autistic child’. A person first language emphasizes on the abilities and possibilities rather than the limitations

Nurturance

In psychology, this term means the physical nourishment as well as emotional care given to a child so as to help further their development. Ensuring that a child has adequate diet, physical and emotional safety etc. can be referred to as nutrients.

Irreversible developmental problem

This is a problem or defect in the development of a child that cannot be psychologically, or medically be reversed (Allen & Cowdery, 2012). For instance, the height of a child, as they grow up cannot be reversed. A child’s height, can therefore be an irreversible developmental problem. Others are being deaf, blind, etc.

Gifted child

A gifted child is one who exhibits unusual abilities as compared to other children in a given stage of development. Such unusual abilities may be manifested in their advanced verbal ability, fast learning, problem solving skills, curiosity as well as ability to concentrate.

Multiple choice questions

– A
– A
– C
– A
– C
– B
– C
– C
Without disabilities With disabilities

References

Allen, K. E & Cowdery, G. E (2012) The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
National Center for Learning Disabilities (2000) “ Early Identification: Normal and Atypical Development,” Adapted from http://www. ldonline. org/article/Early_Identification: _Normal_and_Atypical_Development
Center for disease control and prevention.” Child developmental milestones” Adapted from
http://www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index. html