DCF - CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (CGDR) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS

DCF - CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (CGDR) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS “Specific body changes and increases in the child's size such as a child's height, weight, head circumference and BMI - CORRECT ANSWER Growth" "An increase in complexity, a change from relatively simple to more complicated and involves progression where child gains refined knowledge, behaviors and skills. - CORRECT ANSWER Development" "Why are the 5 Developmental Domains important to child care programs? - CORRECT ANSWER They can help in detecting developmental delays." "refers to typical growth patterns; changes in weight, height, vision and hearing. Also refers to physical milestones like muscle control; ability to grasp, roll over, sit up, writing etc - CORRECT ANSWER The Physical Developmental Domain" "Refers to eagerness to learn; curiosity, persistence, creative problem solving and ability to create and complete long term projects. - CORRECT ANSWER Approaches to Learning Domain" "Refers to ability to communicate with others, involves ability to see, hear, speak, read, write and construct understanding of things around them. - CORRECT ANSWER Language and communication developmental domain" "Refers to intellectual or mental abilities; exploration, discovery, concept and memory formation, problem solving and creative expression. Knowledge of math,scientific thinking, awareness of social studies and the arts. - CORRECT ANSWER Cognitive and development and general knowledge domain" "Focuses on self-esteem, how children feel about themselves and their relationships with others; refers to individual behaviors, responses, attachments and prosocial behaviors. - CORRECT ANSWER Social and emotional developmental domain" "These are behaviors that are the most positive attributes; helping, sharing, sympathizing, cooperating and comforting. - CORRECT ANSWER Prosocial behavior" "How can caregivers encourage prosocial behavior? - CORRECT ANSWER Modeling, reinforcement, teaching, set rules, promoting self-discipline" "What are the 3 elements of developmentally appropriate practices? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Age- activities should fit age range 2. Individually appropriate- observe background and talents, determine if child is developing typically 3. Socially and culturally appropriate- content should be based on what is familiar to children and giving them opportunities to share different cultural standards." "What are the 3 elements needed to create developmentally appropriate program? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. active learning: learn by doing 2. meaningful experiences: memorable when relatable 3. nurturing relationships: positive relationships with peers and adults" growth - CORRECT ANSWER refers to specific body changes and increases in the child's size, such as a child's height, weight, head circumference, and body mass index; these changes can usually be easily measured" "development - CORRECT ANSWER typically refers to an increase in complexity, a change from relatively simple to more complicated; development usually involves a progression along a continuous pathway on which the child acquires more refined knowledge, behaviors, and skills; the sequence is basically the same for all children, however, the rate varies" "specific growth changes - CORRECT ANSWER -during the first year of a child's life, babies can grow ten inches in length and triple their birth weight -after the first year, a baby's growth in length slows to five inches each year -a major growth spurt occurs at the time of puberty -girls generally enter puberty between 8 and 13 years of age -boys usually enter puberty between 10 and 15 years of age" "similarities in growth - CORRECT ANSWER -growth proceeds from the head downward and from the center of the body outward -children gain control of the head and neck first, then the arms, and finally the legs -at birth, the brain, heart, and spinal cord are fully functioning to support the infant -as children grow, the arm and leg muscles develop, followed by the finger and toes muscles" "differences in growth - CORRECT ANSWER -some children are taller, some shorter; some children are smaller, while others are larger -these differences are completely typical; typical growth is supported by good nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise -children do not grow at perfectly steady rates throughout childhood -children will experience weeks or months of slightly slower growth, followed by growth spurts -differences in the amount of growth can be a source of self-consciousness for some children -it is important to help children understand that differences in growth patterns are typical; because each child is different and special, it is important to help them understand this concept in order to develop a sense of self-acceptance" "self-esteem needs examples - CORRECT ANSWER -sense of competency as parent, worker, significant other -sense of efficacy, capability -sense of resiliency, hopefulness -ability to cope and problem solve -sense of well-being (individual to family levels) -opportunities for enjoyment" "self-actualization needs examples - CORRECT ANSWER -spirituality -personal emotional response -refinement of interpersonal skills (empathy, communication, relating) -enhancement of understanding of relationships with child(ren), family, community, self" "erik erikson - CORRECT ANSWER -developed 8 emotional and personality development stages through which humans develop during their lifetimes -assumes humans are driven by, and constantly trying to channel, powerful inner forces -describes emotional development as a series of 8 stages, called conflicts, which must be "resolved" before proceeding to the next conflict -moving successfully through these conflicts ensures that an individual becomes socially and emotionally stable" "Erikson's Eight Conflicts - CORRECT ANSWER -(infant) trust vs mistrust -(toddler) autonomy vs shame and doubt -(preschool) initiative vs guilt -(grade school) industry vs inferiority -(high school) identity vs role confusion -(early adult) intimacy vs isolation -(middle adult) generativity vs stagnation -(late adult) integrity vs despair (encouraging trust, autonomy, initiative, and industry can resolve conflicts at each stage. If parents fail to help resolve a conflict, children could experience mistrust, shame and doubt, guilt, and inferiority. A firm foundation of trust encourages autonomy; autonomy encourages initiative; and initiative encourages industry)" "Infant- Trust vs Mistrust - CORRECT ANSWER -trust is developed over time by providing an infant with a consistent, comforting environment -when needs are met, trust is established -trust builds an emotional foundation -a lack of trust can result in poor emotional stability" "toddler- Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt - CORRECT ANSWER -toddlers need to explore their own bodies and environment in order to become confident about themselves -when autonomy is allowed, a person can become comfortable with his/her choices -a lack of autonomy can result in a feeling of shame or insecurity" "preschool- Initiative vs Guilt - CORRECT ANSWER -four or five year olds begin to develop an interest in exploring beyond themselves -children who are not allowed to pursue their natural curiosity will be prone to feel guilt for their actions -when initiative is encouraged, a person experiments within one's environment -a lack of encouragement for initiative can result in a feeling of guilt for acting on one's natural curiosity" "grade school- Industry vs Inferiority - CORRECT ANSWER -between the ages of 6 to 12, children show the ability to develop competencies. Children who are inhibited in developing these skills are abilities will experience inferiority -when children experience success, they attain a sense of adequacy and pride -a lack of industry can result in a feeling of low self-worth" "high school- Identity vs Role Confusion - CORRECT ANSWER -between ages 12 to 18, children are attempting to define who they are and where they are going -when children are given the opportunity to develop their own ideas and opinions, they can form their own identity -a lack of identity will lead to confusion about who they are" "how can you implement the theories of Montessori in your child care environment? - CORRECT ANSWER -create an environment that is full of beauty and order -provide child-sized furniture and materials -allow children to access the materials they need, and help them learn to return those materials to where they belong when they are finished -provide opportunities for sensory experiences" "attachment theories and the importance of quality infant care - CORRECT ANSWER -caregivers serve a critical role in the development of young children that can impact all stages of life, including adulthood -its important that the impression you have on them is as positive and supportive as possible -infants need attentive, responsive adults in order to develop into well-adjusted individuals and adults -failure to provide these experiences may lead to mental health problems later in life -it is vital that you ensure all children feel loved and attended to -child care givers are in a unique position to soothe and comfort infants during times when their parents are experiencing stress -caregivers have the opportunity to form very significant bonds with children -this ability of children to form close relationships with adults during their early years creates the foundation for the child's self-esteem and prevents potential mental health issues later in life" "factors of child development - CORRECT ANSWER -internal: heredity and health status -external: environment (knowing development rates and expectations can help child care professionals recognize if a child needs professional help, such as vision correction, physical therapy, hearing aids, or speech therapy; also helps you tailor activities and expectations for the children in your care)" "brain development - CORRECT ANSWER -approximately 100 billion brain cells at birth, but minimal wiring between them -this wiring between nerve cells is called a synapse -synaptic connections are being formed throughout the brain during life -early on, these new pathways are simple, vulnerable and growing rapidly -later on, the brain begins to surround the synapse with an insulation that offers protection to the connections -messages between synapses are sent electronically; the chemicals involved seem to be specialized and indicate pleasure, pain, or alarm -stimulation and experience determine what synaptic connections are initially formed; stimuli that are encountered early and often, as well as the child's successful responses, get wired into the brain -practice and repetition help determine the strength and durability of a connection; imagine the saying "use it or lose it" for brain development -the brain of a newborn to age 3 will undergo an incredible amount of growth and change -at birth, the brain stem and spinal cord are developed and control vital bodily functions, such as breathing and heartbeat; they also control the kicking, crying, sleeping, and feeding that are characteristic of infants -the rest of the brain will undergo considerable development as the infant grows; the growth is influenced by the baby's environment and experiences" "developmental windows - CORRECT ANSWER times in a child's growth when children are especially receptive to their surroundings and interactions with other people; these time periods are tied to brain development and readiness for learning that will directly affect the achievement of developmental milestones (ex: language skills depend on hearing other people speak. If there is not adequate verbal stimulation in the first years of life, language skills- especially grammar and pronunciation- are negatively affected. This is critically important for young children, since the window of opportunity for learning language skills begins to close around five years old and greatly diminishes around puberty)" "brain gym - CORRECT ANSWER -just as your muscles need to be exercised to keep them strong, your brain also needs a workout to ensure it is performing at its full potential -learning is not an isolate "brain" function -every nerve and cell in the body is a network contributing to our intelligence and our learning capacity -brain gym exercises can be used before and during any learning activity; they are simply, but effective -brain buttons, cross crawl, hook up, drink water" "brain buttons - CORRECT ANSWER -this exercise helps improve blood flow to the brain to "switch on" the entire brain before learning begins -the increased blood flow helps improve concentration skills required for learning 1. position one hand so there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and index finger 2. place the index finger and thumb of this hand into the slight indentations below the collarbone on each side of the sternum. Press lightly in a pulsing manner 3. at the same time, put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach 4. gently press on these points for about two minutes or 20 times each; 5. switch hands and repeat" "cross crawl - CORRECT ANSWER this exercise helps coordinate the right and left sides of the brain by exercising the info flow between the two sides -useful for learning beginning skills; as well as spelling, writing, listening, reading, and comprehension 1. stand or sit 2. put the right hand or elbow across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand or elbow on the right knee, as if marching 3. continue this motion for about two minutes" "key point - CORRECT ANSWER health status is one of the largest contributing factors that affect a child's ability to grow and develop at a typical rate" "childhood obesity - CORRECT ANSWER -is a growing concern as it can lead to a variety of health problems later in life -obese children can develop heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, as well as social discrimination -helping children establish healthy habits ad exercise routines allows children to more easily maintain healthy lifestyle trends throughout adulthood -while some children may have medical conditions that result in weight gain or loss, the majority of weight gain is the result of too many calories and too little exercise -overexposure to marketing of candy, sodas, and fast food has resulted in children who have inaccurate interpretations of healthy food choices -due to busy schedules, inaccurate nutritional perceptions, and other socioeconomic factors, some parents struggle with providing well-balanced meals for their children -increased access to technology, such as television programming, video games, movies, and computers, can distract children from engaging in appropriate amounts of physical activity and exercise -there are several practices you can use to assist overweight children, such as avoiding using food or candy as a reward or to encourage behavior -encouraging children to finish all the food on their plates is an outdated practice; allow children to eat as much or as little as they like -always have healthy foods, snacks, and drinks available to children -educate children about healthy food choices -provide plenty of opportunities for both indoor and outdoor physical activities -share info with parents about healthy nutritional practices and the importance of daily physical exercise -discuss possible changes and improvements that parents could make at home" "social influence on child development - CORRECT ANSWER -social interactions form the basis of our need for belonging, acceptance, and self-esteem -interacting with peers helps children learn about themselves and others while they establish that they belong as part of a larger group -interactions with parents ad adults help children to learn appropriate behaviors and expectations, which forms the basis for adapting to societal norms -social interactions with family, peers, adults, caregivers, adn neighbors have an influence on a child's behavior and personality -Vygotsky theorized that social and cultural interactions are the primary sources of learning and behavior -you can use the child care environment to arrange gatherings with parents and family members -field trips to a fire station, police department, or hospital are opportunities for children to safely engage with adults performing in a professional capacity, which exposes children to the behaviors that will eventually be expected of them -opportunities for dramatic play foster children's imaginations and encourage role playing expected behaviors" "promoting social interaction - CORRECT ANSWER -as a caregiver it is one of your responsibilities to ensure that children are provided with opportunities for social interaction and growth -creating situations for children to engage with others, including peers, should be a daily goal -desihn activities that foster social interactions -social activities should provide opportunities for children to learn appropriate behaviors, engage in entertaining and satisfying experiences, and foster self-esteem and a sense of belonging -guided interactions are essential to helping children develop positive peer relationships -encouraging cooperative play teaches children to take turns, to have positive interactions, and to share with and be polite to others -pairing children with other who share common interests helps form bonds and establish self-esteem -children who experience positive interactions during cooperative play will eventually begin to share toys and engage with others without prompting or guidance from adults and caregivers -maintain close supervision during social interactions and cooperative play to monitor children's progress towards social growth" "social interaction and children with disabilities - CORRECT ANSWER -children with disabilities may sometimes have an increased difficulty engaging in social interactions with their peers -because of a perceived difference, whether physical or mental, the peers of a child with a disability may be reluctant or shy about engaging in social interactions with them -be sure to remain aware of opportunities to encourage children with disabilities to be involved in activities and interactions with their peers whenever possible -preschool children with disabilities have a potential risk of challenges in the development of social skills and peer interactions -including children with disabilities in a group with typical peers is not sufficient for building social skills, facilitating emotional development, and promoting interactions -you can assist all children in developing socially by analyzing the nature of the toys or play activities; including children at varying developmental levels; teaching the children with disabilities to make eye contact, smile, take turns, and share; and teaching the typically-developing peers to initiate and maintain social interactions with the students with disabilities -ensure that there are a variety of activities children with disabilities can participate in" "developmental obstacles - CORRECT ANSWER -as a child care provider, you should always be on the lookout for sign of developmental delays and be aware of appropriate methods of dealing with children experiencing developmental delays -developmental obstacles vary widely but all affect development -other external influences can also affect development, such as having parents who cannot read or who do not frequently talk with their children, or living in homes where English is not spoken, which can affect the learning opportunities of a child and the child's ability to relate to others -also the quantity and nutritional value of food consumed affects the child's development through life -overcoming or reducing the effect of developmental obstacles requires teamwork between the child, parents, and the child care professional; such teamwork can promote more typical development" "a child's family can have an impact on their health status in a variety of ways - CORRECT ANSWER -there are a number of health issues the family controls, such as serving healthy meals, frequency of doctor visits and getting the necessary immunizations -parental responsibility begins with good pre-natal care. Unfortunately, some children are victims of bad choices made by parents -one of the more devastating examples of how health status influences child development is the affect of alcohol on the developing child (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD result in a variety of mental and physical defects that develop in unborn babies when the mother drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy; growth, skeletal, facial, organ, and central nervous system abnormalities can be symptoms of FASDs; a baby born with FASDs may be seriously disabled and require a lifetime of special care)" "developmental disabilities - CORRECT ANSWER -a developmental disability is a chronic condition that is diagnosed in childhood and substantially limits major life activities in adulthood -not the same as a developmental delay -delays occurs when a child acquires skills and/or learns at a slower pace than typical children the same age -delays don't cause substantial restrictions or limitations like disabilities do -appropriate support in the first three years of life is called early intervention, and the sooner the intervention services begin, the better" "what should a child care professional do if they suspect a child has an undiagnosed developmental disability? - CORRECT ANSWER a child care professionals role in the intervention process is to recognize the signs of the most prevalent developmental disabilities; ensure families are aware of intervention services; and provide individualized, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate care at the child care at the child care program -its important to remember that child care professionals should never try to diagnose children or attempt to treat or remedy a developmental disability on their own -they should however learn to recognize the characteristics of some of the most prevalent disabilities so they can make referrals appropriately in accordance with their child care program's policies and procedures" "there are two developmental disabilities that you should be sure to remain knowledgeable about - CORRECT ANSWER -autism spectrum disorder -down syndrome" "Autism spectrum disorder - CORRECT ANSWER -a group of brain-based neurological disorders characterized by social impairments and communication difficulties; as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, such as rocking back and forth, twirling or spinning, and flapping or waving of arms -the characteristics of Autism can present in a variety of ways, combinations, and degrees in individual children" "down syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER a genetic disorder that results in a number of physical characteristics and intellectual impairments -children with downs may have flattened facial features and a small mouth and ears -they might have broad hands, a single crease in their palms, and short fingers -a child born with downs always has intellectual impairments, with varying degrees of severity from mild to profound" "inclusive child care programs - CORRECT ANSWER -when child care programs fully support children with developmental disabilities -inclusion means to ensure that all children are involved in activities -the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a federal law that requires child care programs to comply with specific accessibility guidelines to support children with disabilities -the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, ensures that all children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 receive free and appropriate public education and that early intervention services are provided to eligible infants and toddlers -additionally, child care professionals: use developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), establish a routine and schedule, foster friendships, nurture language development, facilitate imaginative play, and assist families in meeting their children's needs" "identifying children with special needs - CORRECT ANSWER each child develops at different rates, but sometimes what we see in a certain child is not slower development, but rather a signal that the child is having a problem" "toileting routines - CORRECT ANSWER when considering toilet training, consider readiness signals, and remember that a child should not be experiencing a stressful situation when toilet training is started, such as weaning from the breast or bottle, the birth of a new baby in the family, or changes in child care arrangements (wait four to six weeks after situation passes to begin training) older toddlers: -most children have the muscle control to regulate themselves between eighteen months and three years of age -children with disabilities may not have this ability until a later age -certain medical problems may delay or prohibit a child from developing the muscle control needed for self-regulation" "toilet training readiness signals - CORRECT ANSWER -excitement over learning to walk and run -able to sit down and play quietly for about five minutes -able to help dress and undress self (as long as process doesn't include complicated unbuttoning or untying) -shows imitative behavior -wants to put toys and other possessions where they belong -able to understand and follow simple directions -takes pride in accomplishments -has bowel movements at regular times every day -bowel movements are well-formed -able to remain dry for about two hours at a time -able to urinate a good amount at one time -aware of the process of elimination -has a name for urine and bowel movement" "dressing routines - CORRECT ANSWER dressing and undressing are good opportunities for one-on-one interaction that help make the caregiver-child relationship a special one young infants: -dressing and undressing a young infant can be rather frustrating -their hands and elbows stick out at strange angles and catch in their sleeves -they become more cooperative partners and dressing/undressing becomes much easier young toddlers: -dressing and undressing the young toddler can be quite tricky -they often do not want to stand still and may even try to get away -they are likely to be more cooperative with undressing than dressing -can usually push arms through armholes and legs through pants -they can untie shoes and pull off socks -tying, buttoning, and snapping comes much later. You can help the process by providing dolls with easy to handle clothing; and button boards or frames with a variety of fasteners, such as buttons, snaps, or zippers young toddlers: -older toddlers have improved dressing skills and some children may be able to dress themselves, if the clothes are simple and large enough -most children still need help. Again, remember that independence and autonomy are an issue at this age, and children should be allowed to make choices if possible (ex: "Do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue one?") preschoolers: -can usually dress and undress without assistance -are able to zip a coat and button a shirt -can usually tie shoes with some coaching -are able to brush teeth and comb hair without assistance" "developmental domains - CORRECT ANSWER -young children are developing in all the domains simultaneously -each domain is equally important to the growth and development of a child -not only are the developmental domains equally important, but they are also interwoven -rapid physical growth leads to increased and more refined motor development -early brain development research states that social and emotional development, and cognitive development, are interdependent in the development of intellect -physical development- and social and emotional development- must be supported by caring adults, if a child's intellectual abilities and learning are to be maximized -it is essential that the child care environment sustains a child's curiosity, creativity, evolving language and communication skills, and growing knowledge about the world" "age ranges - CORRECT ANSWER -children's development progresses at irregular intervals, with progress periodically starting and stopping -its quite normal for their to be variation in the patterns and timing of growth and development, rather than a smooth progression -development is uneven, as children do not progress in all skills at the same time -a child grows and learns as a whole, not in pieces -skills such as sitting up, grasping, or walking are examples of increasing maturation -these skills involve muscle strength and coordination that, in turn, are influenced by things such as nutrition and opportunities to practice" "domains - CORRECT ANSWER five domains (physical development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language and communication, and cognitive development and general knowledge) all blend to form the basis of a child's personality. This progress is seen by categorizing predictable growth, behavior, and skill into groups of similar and interdependent expectancies necessary for maturation" "physical development domain - CORRECT ANSWER -refers to typical growth patterns, changes in weight and height, motor development, general health and safety, visual perception, and hearing, and any other area related to a child's physical well-being. It refers to a child's ability to move around and control various body parts; examples include abilities such as grasping, rolling over, sitting up, hopping on one foot, writing, and using tools for tasks -reflexes control most of a newborn's movements, while an eight month old may already be pulling up onto furniture and taking their first steps -a newborn does very little at first; most movements are reflexive and automatic -each infant is born with a set of reflexes that allow response to environment, even before they have had a chance to learn; most of these disappear after a few months -motor development refers to a child's ability to move around and control various body parts; instruction in and practice of motor skills are effective only after the appropriate physical development has occurred (ex: grasping can only occur after the muscles in the hand and fingers have developed) -children learn the specifics of each motor skill once their bodies are sufficiently mature; once the final stage for each gross motor or fine motor skill is learned, children continue to refine the movement and increase in strength and power -remember children develop at different rates that are genetically determined" "physical development of infants and toddlers - CORRECT ANSWER -children change a great deal during the first few years of life -in the early years of development, discovery and exploration take center stage -during the first few month, a child begins to gain control over parts of the body -motor development begins at the head and works its way down. This means that an infant will develop control of the head before they learn to control the hands. The use of arms will develop before the legs -at this young toddler stage, children are very busy exploring and investigating their environment. This newfound mobility has opened up a new world for the young toddler -at 8 to 18 months, children move from beginning to crawl, to standing while holding on, to climbing up and down stairs with assistance, and eventually, walking with or without assistance -during this stage, it is very important to support a child's sense that "I can do it." It is also important that you focus on a positive aspect of this stage: increasing independence" "physical development ages 18 to 36 months - CORRECT ANSWER -children become more confident when they can wash and dry their own hands, feed themselves without help, and ride a tricycle -the "I can do it myself" stage manifests itself in dressing themselves without assistance, going up and down stairs independently, and engaging in simple conversations -it is important for you, as a child care professional, to support the independence needs of the older toddlers, even when you could do it much faster -it is your responsibility to make sure that the child care environment safely supports older toddlers' exploration" "physical development of preschoolers and school-agers - CORRECT ANSWER -preschoolers can do many things independently -this is a time for the exuberance of jumping, running, hoping, and bike riding -they become better listeners and can understand and explain the importance of avoiding common dangers, such as sharp knives and playing with fire -they still need child care professionals to stay close and help with difficult tasks; and they often want to help with chores, such as setting the table or cleaning up messy projects -although it takes time and energy to show them how to do a new job, its worth the effort -school age children continue to act more independently each year; you want to provide carefully structured opportunities to foster this growing independence -one way to do this is to pair the older children with younger children as mentors or teachers -as a child care professional, you should choose activities that train children to improve their physical and motor development" "can you find other examples of maturing skills using objects that cross over at least two age ranges? - CORRECT ANSWER -running -throwing a ball -getting dressed -washing hands" "fine and gross motor development - CORRECT ANSWER -the development of motor skills, both gross and fine, are important to the overall physical development of a child -gross motor skills involve development of large muscles, such as those found in the arms and legs. Gross motor skills include running, throwing, climbing and jumping -fine motor skills involve the development of small muscles, such as those found in the fingertips, lips, and toes. Fine motor skills include grasping, writing, and eating -to aid in this development: --provide as many opportunities as possible for the children to run, jump, throw, and climb --demonstrate and provide practice in the use of simple tools, such as a fork, spoon, scissors, and writing and drawing materials --encourage children to use all five of their senses, both indoors and outdoors --provide activities and opportunities for children to improve all five of their senses --caregivers can provide opportunities to improve gross motor skills through games such as leap frog, duck duck goose, hopscotch, simon says, red light green light, and tag --growth occurs in spurts; a child may suddenly be able to accomplish a task they couldn't a week ago" "How can you encourage children to stay focused on a task for increasing periods of time? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Developing Questions That Help Children Think - CORRECT ANSWER Carefully crafted questions can encourage creative thinking. Because language and thought are closely intertwined, more elaborate, and fully articulate answers help children practice higher-level thinking skills. Many of the examples below require children to wrestle with uncertainties, make connections, or create their own definitions. 1. Applying/matching • How could you use...? • What job uses this ...? • When would you need this...? 2. Comparing/contrasting • What is similar to ...? • How is this like ...? • How is this different from ...? .3. Connecting Ideas • What things do you think about? • What do you already know about ...? 4. Evaluating/Judging • What do you like/dislike about ...? • What is your favorite ...? Why? 5. Alike/Different • How is ... like ...? • What else looks like ...? • What part of ... is like you? 6. Symbolizing • Can you draw a picture of this? • What song would match this? • Could you write a sentence/story/poem about this?" "approaches to learning domain for school-agers - CORRECT ANSWER As children reach the age of six and enter school, they are becoming excited about learning, making new friends, and engaging in new experiences. They are becoming able to accomplish more challenging and complicated tasks, and are experiencing the rewards that follow. As they develop a new and increasingly complicated set of skills, they begin to apply their newly gained knowledge in more complex and complicated ways six year olds: -Are learning to read and experiencing emergent literacy as they recognize and learn to write symbols and letters -Enjoy and learn from sensory experiences, such as building blocks, art supplies, puzzles, and musical instruments -Need to have hands-on learning experiences so they can learn through trial and error, and enjoy the rewards of experiencing success and accomplishment -Show increasing attention spans, and can concentrate for longer periods of time without becoming distracted seven year olds: -Are becoming aware of themselves as individuals -Are developing concepts of space and time in logical and practical ways -Are gaining a better concept of cause and effect ("If I do this, then this will happen...") -Can tell time and make plans in advance eight year olds: -Enjoy collecting and organizing items, such as toys or baseball cards, and putting them on display; they also enjoy comparing and trading these items with peers -Collect and save money for future purchases, and are willing to perform tasks or jobs for payment -Like to work independently and delight in achieving success -Willingly accept challenges and responsibilities, and enjoy being rewarded for their work" "Implications for the Approaches to Learning Domain - CORRECT ANSWER • Approaches to learning requires child care professionals to be alert to opportunities to encourage and praise children who are demonstrating persistence, intellectual curiosity, and creativity. • The habits and attitudes in this domain are not learned only through formal instructions, but are encouraged in children by being around people who exhibit them. • As the child care professional, you need to acknowledge a child when you see them completing a task or being persistent in their dedication to solving a problem. • You can help support eagerness, curiosity, persistence, problem solving, and creativity with effective modeling by adults; also by giving praise to children when they exhibit use of these habits and attitudes. It is important to: • Model a sense of excitement at attempting a task and being successful • Use art and music as learning tools on a regular basis • Provide activities that explore the child's environment and then extend them through science-oriented, mathoriented, and social studies-oriented lessons • Offer lots of playtime involving manipulatives that the children can grasp and sort and match by color or pattern" "language and communication domain - CORRECT ANSWER refers to the child's ability to communicate with others. It involves a child's ability to see, hear, speak, write, and construct an understanding of things around them. From the very first day of an infant's life, he/she is trying to communicate with the world around him/her. He/ she will strive to make connections with the people in his/her life that satisfy his/her needs for food, comfort, and companionship." "Vision and Hearing in Infancy - CORRECT ANSWER • Young infants are able to see at a distance of approximately eight to fifteen inches. Objects held at this distance are most clear. Since this is the distance at which you typically hold or feed a young infant, your face is one of the objects that an infant will see best. • Young babies like looking at the human face and find it very interesting. • Infants have some difficulty focusing their eyes on things beyond fifteen inches. They are unable to pick up the details of objects. • Babies are interested in objects that move and that have high contrast in areas of light and dark. • Babies are born with the ability to hear. This ability begins to develop in the womb. • Mothers frequently report that they notice the unborn baby moving right after a loud noise. • Long before a baby is born, he/she is hearing sounds such as his/her mother's voice and his/her mother's heartbeat. • Newborns are especially fascinated by the human voice. They come into the world ready to listen to the sounds of human language. • Before babies utter their first word, they are preparing for language in many ways. They listen attentively to human speech and they begin to make speech-like sounds." "Early Communication Development - CORRECT ANSWER When you are sensitive to this early communication and are able to respond with interest to the infant's attempts at communication, it will help them become competent communicators. It should be noted that "hearing" matures to "listening." Infants hear sound in their environment. As they grow, they begin to listen. They begin to attach meaning to words and other sounds. The same process occurs with seeing. Infants see objects in their environment. As they mature, they construct an understanding of the things around them that they see, so their vision becomes a window to understanding the world." "Language Development: Infants - CORRECT ANSWER Language development occurs in gradual steps as children age. All infants advance at their own pace; no two infants will reach a particular milestone, such as their first word or their first steps, at exactly the same time. The stages that infants progress through do happen in the same order. • As a baby grows older, the crying becomes more differentiated into a variety of sounds. You become better able to discriminate what certain cries and sounds mean. • The timing of early babbling seems to be due to maturation since all infants, even those who are deaf, start babbling around the same age." "Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-Agers - CORRECT ANSWER Language development occurs rapidly during the toddler and preschool ages. • At 24 months, a child's receptive vocabulary—the words he/she understands—contains about 300 words. His/ her expressive vocabulary—the words he/she uses to express himself/herself—is not as large, but is growing every day. • Around 36 months, children will respond when spoken to, tell lots of stories, and enjoy rhyming and singing. They will ask lots of questions and be eager to learn new words. They will begin to speak in increasingly longer sentences and begin to show an increase in the ability to use grammar correctly. • School-age children will begin to show an increased understanding of grammar in their speech around the age of six. Their language and speech skills will allow them to use words and language that are appropriate for who they are speaking to, whether adults or peers." "Developing Literacy Skills - CORRECT ANSWER Reading is one of the most important skills that contributes to education. Literacy is a key skill involved in the learning process and the earlier this skill is developed, the better the chances a child will have a successful academic career. It is never too early to start reading to children. It is critical that child care professionals create a learning environment that is designed to nurture the emergent literacy of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Studies show that the more children read, the better readers and writers they become. You can encourage the growth of language and cognitive abilities by reading. Infants and toddlers need to be exposed to learning activities that teach them skills in preparation for reading. Preschoolers need to be provided with strong support of their emerging reading ability. When children become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond. It is important to remember that some children may come from a literacy-poor home environment. Their experiences with your child care environment may be the only contact they have with books and reading. Daily reading is essential! Older toddlers show growing interest in print and books. They demonstrate some book-reading skills such as holding a book upright and turning pages right to left. These book-reading skills are important and include reading a book from front to back and from the top of the page to the bottom. Three-year-old children are growing into their own as they begin to engage in dramatic play. They are also demonstrating phonological awareness by saying the sounds of letters. Phonological awareness is a term used to describe a person's knowledge of the sound structure of words. Phonological awareness activities should be connected to words children a" "reading to children - CORRECT ANSWER • model a joy of reading and writing for children. • Create a high-quality, diverse library of books for story time and individual reading. • Encourage parents to read aloud to their children and have plenty of books and reading materials available in the home. • Create a print-rich environment with plenty of art, books, vocabulary strips, maps, posters, and alphabet signs. • Use a computer to find stories, learning activities, and games that can become a part of the daily schedule. When planning for story time: • Preview the material. Ensure that all materials are fun, engaging, and age appropriate. • Practice reading with plenty of expression. This helps make story time a more engaging experience for children. • Choose books with pictures that will interest children and fuel their imaginations. • Stories and poems that rhyme are fun and appeal to children" "writing skills - CORRECT ANSWER There should be time designated each day to practice writing. Daily practice is essential to help children become more proficient in writing letters, words, and sentences. Reading and writing skills develop in children at the same time." "Implications for the Language and Communication Domain - CORRECT ANSWER The implications that literacy has on language and communication extend beyond reading and writing, and can be seen in children's spoken communications. Listen to and talk with each child every day. Make it a habit to speak individually to each child throughout the day; this will make it easier to find a moment for each child, no matter how busy your day may be. Speaking individually with each child will help you gain an understanding of what they are learning, and how they are progressing with their literacy skills. Be sure to set aside some time to devote to children who need it, such as quiet, shy children; or children who speak English as a second language." "cognitive development and general knowledge domain - CORRECT ANSWER refers to a child's intellectual or mental abilities. It involves exploration, discovery, concept and memory formation, problem solving, and creative expression. It includes knowledge of mathematics, scientific thinking, awareness of social studies, and the arts. A child is born an explorer. From the earliest stages of life, they are ready to see, feel, smell, and taste the world around them. If they can get close enough—without supervision—they will chew, push, poke, stare at, and examine everything in their environment." "cognitive development and general knowledge: Infants and Toddlers - CORRECT ANSWER Infants and toddlers try everything and can inflict some damage in an innocent attempt to get closer to objects that are out of their reach. Learning is their aim and play is the vehicle they use to learn. Remember, all of the domains are developing at the same time. Early brain development research says that social-emotional development and cognitive development go hand in hand. A child can only learn when there is no threat to their well-being. Twelve- to twenty-four-month-old children are beginning to exhibit much more obvious signs of cognitive development, such as cause and effect, and object recognition. Between the ages of two and three years old children will display their cognitive progress through a variety of increasingly complex behaviors. They will pretend to read, sort objects, repeat rhymes and songs, talk about books, tell their ages and names, and ask an increasing number of questions. As a child care professional, you need to surround the children in your care with objects that can be held, sorted, counted, and combined. These may be as simple as a bag of clothespins or as complex as a manipulative kit" "What kinds of objects can be used in the child care environment to stimulate children to engage in cognitive play? - CORRECT ANSWER Many objects can be used as makeshift toys that toddlers can shake, fill, push, pull, and squeeze. These can include: -Toilet paper rolls -Large pieces of uncooked pasta -Empty plastic tubs with lids -Empty boxes -Wooden blocks" "Cognitive Development and General Knowledge: Preschoolers - CORRECT ANSWER Math is a big part of the world of a preschooler. Numbers are everywhere, and three-year-olds are interested in solving math problems. Diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, and out-of-school experiences must be considered as you plan activities and learning experiences. Additionally, children may vary in their math vocabulary, such as being limited to "big" and "little" versus using a variety of terms to compare attributes of an object. Children are interested in the world around them. While we touched on examples of the expectancies in the Cognitive Development and General Knowledge Domain, there is a much larger body of information in this domain that should be studied. You must know what to expect from all of the children in your care, regardless of if their development seems typical, or indicates developmental delays or special needs. This information is at the very core of your decisions about setting up your child care environment, designing the curriculum and learning strategies, and assisting parents in evaluating their children's progress." "If you can easily take your three-year-olds outside, how could you set up a science observation activity with magnifying glasses? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Cognitive Development and General Knowledge: school-agers - CORRECT ANSWER Six-year-olds enjoy both structured and unstructured activities, and have an attention span of up to 30 minutes. Seven-year-olds show interest in a growing variety of subjects, including computers, games, jokes, riddles, maps, globes, and graphs. Eight-year-olds enjoy completing projects and learn more from hands-on experiences than from listening to a speaker; and can engage in research activities, such as observing, exploring, questioning, and recording information." "Implications for the Cognitive Development and General Knowledge Domain - CORRECT ANSWER Learning depends, in part, on the quality of the experiences and opportunities children have, both at home and with their child care professionals. With safety in mind, environments that stimulate them to explore and discover maximize the learning possibilities. Remember to: • Use math and science vocabulary words when appropriate • Look for read-aloud books that reinforce math, science, social studies, and art and music • Use positional vocabulary, and refer to maps and location charts • Organize an art and music learning center or station with appropriate supplies and tools • Involve children's creativity in and connect their creative experiences to concepts they are exploring • Provide children with classroom activities, materials, and discussions that address a wide range of diversity • Teach children about rules and have appropriate rules for children's safety and learning" "understanding domain charts - CORRECT ANSWER -the charts cover children's ages, birth to 12 years old -the age range represents a period of months or years, rather than an exact point in time when typical expectancies will be achieved -generally the info presented in the charts should be interpreted as occurring at the approximate mid-point within the range of months or years -under each age column are the typical growth, behavior, or skill expectancies within each characteristic at the given age range -these domains are guides and should never be used as a checklist -remember its the sequence of growth and development, not the age that is the important part in evaluating a child's progress" "why might you see the same expectancy in more than one age group? For example, "staying awake except during rest periods" is found under ages three to school age - CORRECT ANSWER the ability is important at any age; loss of the ability can indicate a problem; it is an ability that can get more defined, or be performed independently as the child ages" "Appropriate Behavioral Expectations - CORRECT ANSWER " "Prosocial Behavior - CORRECT ANSWER Prosocial behavior in adults and children represents the most positive attributes of society. Acts of kindness—such as helping, sharing, sympathizing, cooperating, and comforting—benefit all persons, the givers and the receivers. When adults and children work towards a common goal, or help someone in distress, they are working towards a positive environment. Children who learn to be kind usually are not selfish or aggressive. Providing instruction in prosocial behavior within the child care environment creates a setting in which all learning is enhanced. People once believed that if we were taught to think about the needs of others, corresponding behaviors would follow. Unfortunately, this is not true. Good thoughts do not necessarily lead to good deeds. As a child care professional, you can increase children's kindnesses to others by creating situations in which you model the behaviors and attitudes you expect of children. Look for instances of positive behaviors and acknowledge them. Actively teach children to think and act with social responsibility. Positive, respectful attitudes are the result of successful, healthy growth and development. As described by Maslow through his hierarchy of needs, once the higher levels of the pyramid are achieved, individuals attain self-actualization, or the realization of their potential. This often results in a happy demeanor, a positive outlook, and overall healthy development. Helping children achieve this is established by promoting prosocial behaviors in the learning environment and helping children practice them in their daily lives." "Benefits of Prosocial Behavior - CORRECT ANSWER Prosocial behavior is the opposite of antisocial behavior, and includes behaviors such as sharing, cooperating, sympathizing, and comforting. Children, as well as adults, experience positive, rewarding relationships and increased self-esteem as the results of engaging in prosocial behaviors. Engaging in prosocial behaviors: -Creates feelings of satisfaction -Builds perceptions of competence -Provides entry into social situations -Promotes ongoing relationships -Increases chances of receiving help or cooperation -Leads to a positive group atmosphere" "How to Promote Prosocial Behavior - CORRECT ANSWER Caregivers are in a unique position to act as role models to children and to model desirable, appropriate behaviors that we want to see reflected in the actions and behavior of the children in care. Since caregivers spend a great deal of time with children, they are also in a position to create a learning environment with an atmosphere that is conducive to encouraging prosocial behaviors in children. According to Guiding Children's Social Development, "In group settings, the atmosphere most likely to promote nurturing, sharing, cooperating, and rescuing has the following characteristics: -Participants anticipate that everyone will do his or her best to support one another. -Both adults and children contribute to decisions made, practices, and procedures. -Communication is direct, clear, and mutual. -Individual differences are respected. -Expectations are reasonable. -People like one another and feel a sense of belonging to the group. -There is an emphasis on group as well as individual accomplishments." Caregivers who design appropriate learning environments and create an atmosphere that encourages these positive, rewarding behaviors help children establish prosocial behaviors as a positive habit that will benefit them throughout their lives. Be sure to discuss appropriate behaviors and attitudes with children, model prosocial behavior, clearly define expectations, and use appropriate discipline techniques when necessary." "Self-Discipline - CORRECT ANSWER " "What is Self-Discipline? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Promoting Self-Discipline in Children - CORRECT ANSWER Adults and caregivers are the primary people who contribute to a child's ability to become self-disciplined. They must help children learn the positive benefits of prosocial behaviors by rewarding them when they act appropriately, and by using positive guidance strategies to deal with inappropriate or unwanted behaviors and actions. Caregivers should take an active role in encouraging children to engage in desirable actions and behaviors, such as sharing with others, comforting their peers, and being honest and respectful. Desirable actions and behaviors can be rewarded with praise and appreciation. Conversely, undesirable actions such as aggression, tattling, or selfishness should be discussed with children, putting an emphasis on the negative effects it has on them and others around them. When children learn to act and react appropriately, resulting in positive relationships and a healthy sense of self-esteem, they gain the ability to function successfully in the wide variety of situations they will experience throughout their lives. Adults and caregivers who successfully instill a sense of self-discipline help children learn to take responsibility for acting appropriately on their own, without a need for others to do it for them." "Addressing Challenging Behaviors - CORRECT ANSWER " "There are a variety of strategies that result in a reduction of negative and challenging behaviors exhibited by children. - CORRECT ANSWER -Model appropriate behavior through books, role play, and conversations -Reinforce positive behaviors through genuine praise -Reduce the frustration in children's lives and help them feel more competent by providing developmentally appropriate activities and materials -Foster empathy among children by teaching them about feelings -Teach children prosocial behaviors -Help children recognize instances of accidental aggression and identify alternatives -Make it clear that aggression is unacceptable through clear expectations -Teach children alternatives to weapon play or aggressive play" "Characteristics of Developmentally Appropriate Learning Environments - CORRECT ANSWER It is important to value the ages and abilities of children in order to make appropriate choices in planning your early childhood classroom. Developing and utilizing high-quality materials and research gives us an understanding of the children in our care, and of the stimulating and responsible curriculum they need to help them reach their maximum potential." "What is DAP? - CORRECT ANSWER " "We use Developmentally Appropriate Practice when planning for children because it: - CORRECT ANSWER -Helps children maintain a high level of attention -Assures learning while participating in age-appropriate activities -Encourages participation without causing feelings of frustration -Allows for individual developmental growth" "Child care professionals who use Developmentally Appropriate Practice make decisions about the education and the well-being of children based on three important sources: - CORRECT ANSWER -What you know about how children develop and learn -What you know about the strengths, needs, and interests of individual children -What you know about the social and cultural contexts in which the children live" "DAP Defined - CORRECT ANSWER Developmentally Appropriate Practice is age appropriate. In Module 4, you learned about how children in the age ranges of birth to 12 develop and learn. With this information in mind, you can develop activities, routines and strategies that meet the needs of children in the age ranges you serve. DAP should be interesting, safe and achievable while still being challenging for children to accomplish. The DAP are valuable general guidelines to support the learning of children. Developmentally Appropriate Practice is individually appropriate. Since children do not always develop at the same rate, it is important for child care professionals to carefully observe the children to determine if they are simply lagging behind and will probably catch up, or if they have more serious issues that require intervention and accommodations. In addition, a child's background, past experiences, talents, and interests all affect which activities match a certain child. If a child has had little or no experience in a certain area, he/she will not perform as well as a child who has had lots of experience in that same area. For example, a child who has never seen snow will not know how to play snow games or completely understand stories about children in snow. Developmentally Appropriate Practice is socially and culturally appropriate. The richness of a diverse classroom offers many opportunities for children to share their heritage with others while requiring you to be alert to culturally sensitive areas and taboos, which may affect children's interactions with adults or their peers. For example, some children of Asian descent are taught that looking an adult in the eyes is rude. Activities should relate to children's past experiences so that strategies and content build on what is familiar to children and their families. Developmental" "The DAP Triangle - CORRECT ANSWER " "Age Appropriate activities for Infant and Toddler- Birth to 2 Years - CORRECT ANSWER -Listening to a story -Playing with play dough -Matching objects and pictures -Pointing to five body parts -Pouring water or sand from one container to another" "Age Appropriate activities for Preschool- 3 to 5 Years - CORRECT ANSWER -Listening to a guest speaker -Pasting shapes or stickers -Visiting a vegetable garden -Practicing writing the ABC's -Identifying letters and sounds -Learning songs for parents' night" "Age Appropriate activities for School Age- 6 to 12 Years - CORRECT ANSWER -Writing and acting out a simple play -Completing 500-piece puzzles -Using the Internet for research (with supervision) -Doing homework without continual supervision -Building a diorama -Matching ten inventors with their inventions" "DAP for Children with Special Needs - CORRECT ANSWER Developmentally