Physical Development Stages

Adolescent Development:

11-18 Years

Middle Childhood Development:

6-12 Years

• There is a two year difference between boys' and girls' growth spurts
• Girls experience growth spurts around 10.5 and boys around 12.5
• During these growth spurts, extremeties often grow before the main body parts which is why most adolescents go through an awkward, clumsy phase at this age
• Oil and sweat glands go into

overdrive at this stage which

is what causes pimples

• The biggest changes are the development of sex characteristics
• Primary and secondary sex characteristics develop

• Pysical growth is slow but steady
• By the age of 12, children are about 5 feet tall and weight about 80 pounds
• Girls are typically taller and heavier than boys by the end of this development stage
• Small mucle and motor skills are refined during this stage
• The biggest change during this stage is cognitive growth

Preschool Development:

2-6 Years

• Physical growth slows

down at this stage

• Children are moving from gross motors skills to small motor skills
• Ex: children at this age can throw a big ball but not use scissors
• Children at this age need lots of physical activity
• Children of this age like to play games such as "Simon Says" and sing songs such as "If You're Happy and You Know It"

Birth to Age Two

Zygote:

• From conception to two weeks
• New life has been created and has inherited all 46 chromosomes from the parents
• A genetic blueprint has been created for the new child

Prenatal Development:

• First Trimester:

0-12 weeks

• Second Trimester:

13-24 weeks

• Third Trimester:

25-36 weeks

• At birth, babies average about 7 pounds in weight and 19.5 inches in height
• Babies grow 10-12 inches in their first year
• By the age of 2, children are 50% of their adult height
• Most of the weight that babies gain early in their life is fat
• Fat production begins slowing down after 9 months

Embryo:

• From two to eight weeks
• Foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system have been established
• The heart begins beating
• The backbone and muscles begin forming
• Arms, legs, eyes, and ears have begun showing

Fetus:

• From eight to thirty-eight weeks
• Has everything that a fully developed adult would have
• The fetus can sleep, excercise, turn its head, and open and close its mouth

Infant Development:

• Sit: 6 months
• Creep: 8 months
• Crawl: 10 months
• Stand: 12 months
• Walk: 13 months

Neonate:

• From birth to two years
• 10 months- the child can imitate words, sounds, and actions
• 16 months- the child enjoys games and songs
• 18 months- the child's vocabulary expands rapidly

Physical Development Stages