Physical development begins at conception and is continuous and multi-dimensional until death.
Prenatal Development
Germinal: conception until the second week.
During this stage, a blastocyst is formed from rapid cell reproduction. The blastocyst consists of three layers that will become the body. These layers are the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The ectoderm will become the nervous system & skin. The mesoderm will become the skeletal system and muscles. The endoderm will become the respiratory and digestive systems.
Embryonic: third until ninth week
During this stage, the blastocyst becomes an emrbyo. Differentiation occurs, which is a process that creates over 230 different cell types. Most birth defects happen during is stage, To avoid this, mothers are encouraged to avoid teratogens, or harmful toxins.
Fetal: ninth week until birth
During this stage, the embryo becomes a fetus. All sex organs and body parts are fully formed, and the baby is less at risk for environmental exposure.
After birth, a baby is a neonate for the first month of life. During this month, development is rapid. Emotional development between mother and child is highly important in these first few weeks, but will occur at an unique pace.
Growth occurs in two ways, cephalocaudal and proximodistal.
Cephalocaudal growth begins at the top of the head and moves downward.
Proximodistal growth begins at the center of the body and moves outward.
*In the figure to the right, "a" represents cephalocaudal, and "b" represents proximodistal.
Childhood development is best seen in growth of height and weight.
Ages 2-11 years
Neural growth is evident, because ninety percent of the brain forms in the first five years of life! Interactions with the environment during this time are very important, because they strongly influence brain development.
Somatic growth is seen through overall weight gain and getting taller. Children reach forty percent of their adult height by age three.
Reproductive growth occurs with puberty, which allows for sexual reproduction. This stage is evident through the growth of sex organs, as well as secondary sex characteristics such as body hair growth, bigger muscles, and lowering of the voice in boys.
Adolescent development occurs in very predictable milestones.
Ages 12-18
Adolescence is marked by puberty, which leads to the ability to reproduce.
The average age for puberty is 10 and a half years in girls, and 11 and a half years in boys.
Puberty is evident in a girl when she gets her period, and in a boy with ejaculation.
Sexual maturation begins with the hypothalamus, which sends hormones to the pituitary gland.
Germinal: conception until the second week.
During this stage, a blastocyst is formed from rapid cell reproduction. The blastocyst consists of three layers that will become the body. These layers are the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The ectoderm will become the nervous system & skin. The mesoderm will become the skeletal system and muscles. The endoderm will become the respiratory and digestive systems.
Embryonic: third until ninth week
During this stage, the blastocyst becomes an emrbyo. Differentiation occurs, which is a process that creates over 230 different cell types. Most birth defects happen during is stage, To avoid this, mothers are encouraged to avoid teratogens, or harmful toxins.
Fetal: ninth week until birth
During this stage, the embryo becomes a fetus. All sex organs and body parts are fully formed, and the baby is less at risk for environmental exposure.
After birth, a baby is a neonate for the first month of life. During this month, development is rapid. Emotional development between mother and child is highly important in these first few weeks, but will occur at an unique pace.
Growth occurs in two ways, cephalocaudal and proximodistal.
Cephalocaudal growth begins at the top of the head and moves downward.
Proximodistal growth begins at the center of the body and moves outward.
*In the figure to the right, "a" represents cephalocaudal, and "b" represents proximodistal.
Childhood development is best seen in growth of height and weight.
Ages 2-11 years
Neural growth is evident, because ninety percent of the brain forms in the first five years of life! Interactions with the environment during this time are very important, because they strongly influence brain development.
Somatic growth is seen through overall weight gain and getting taller. Children reach forty percent of their adult height by age three.
Reproductive growth occurs with puberty, which allows for sexual reproduction. This stage is evident through the growth of sex organs, as well as secondary sex characteristics such as body hair growth, bigger muscles, and lowering of the voice in boys.
Adolescent development occurs in very predictable milestones.
Ages 12-18
Adolescence is marked by puberty, which leads to the ability to reproduce.
The average age for puberty is 10 and a half years in girls, and 11 and a half years in boys.
Puberty is evident in a girl when she gets her period, and in a boy with ejaculation.
Sexual maturation begins with the hypothalamus, which sends hormones to the pituitary gland.
- This usually occurs when a child has reached a weight around 106 pounds.
William Sheldon had a theory that people respond positively or negatively to a person based on having one of three body types.
- endomorphic: soft & round with underdeveloped muscles
- mesomorphic: hard & muscular with an upright position
- ectomorphic: tall, thin & delicate with small muscles and stooped shoulders
Physical Aging occurs with a one percent decline per year after age 30.
Signs of physical aging include difficulty with breathing, loss of elasticity in skin, and bone loss.
Some aspects of aging can be controlled with attention to diet, regular physical exercise, and attention to faith and spirituality.
Personally >
I developed at a fairly predictable rate. I got my period around age eleven, reached my adult height by age twelve, and began to receive my womanly, adult figure around age thirteen. I actually weigh about the same that I did in seventh grade.
In the future >
Understanding the varying stages of physical development is important for my future as an educator. With intense physical growth comes intense emotional growth as well. As an educator, all of these factors must be taken into account for the sake of teaching each child as a whole. It is important for children to understand the changes that are taking place inside of themselves.
Signs of physical aging include difficulty with breathing, loss of elasticity in skin, and bone loss.
Some aspects of aging can be controlled with attention to diet, regular physical exercise, and attention to faith and spirituality.
Personally >
I developed at a fairly predictable rate. I got my period around age eleven, reached my adult height by age twelve, and began to receive my womanly, adult figure around age thirteen. I actually weigh about the same that I did in seventh grade.
In the future >
Understanding the varying stages of physical development is important for my future as an educator. With intense physical growth comes intense emotional growth as well. As an educator, all of these factors must be taken into account for the sake of teaching each child as a whole. It is important for children to understand the changes that are taking place inside of themselves.
