Prior to studying this subject in Development Across the Lifespan, I just thought of physical development as development that you could see. That's not the case. Physical development is also development that happens inside so that the outside can change too. Does that make sense? It begins from the very first moment of our human existence. Even factors before reproduction can impact development of a future child.
My favorite parts of this lesson were reproductive processes and prenatal development. Did you know that men produce millions of sperm everyday? That is AMAZING! That process is called spermatogenesis. Unlike men who are constantly producing, females are born with every egg they will ever have and once puberty starts one (could be more, but usually just one) ova will be released. If it is not fertilized by sperm within 48 hours, it will leave the body. Timing is everything!
Once fertilized, prenatal development begins. There are three stages:
Chromosomes that carry DNA from each parent play a huge part in prenatal development. This is when you get all your "make-up". Some genes are dominant and some are recessive. Here are a few fun charts...
My favorite parts of this lesson were reproductive processes and prenatal development. Did you know that men produce millions of sperm everyday? That is AMAZING! That process is called spermatogenesis. Unlike men who are constantly producing, females are born with every egg they will ever have and once puberty starts one (could be more, but usually just one) ova will be released. If it is not fertilized by sperm within 48 hours, it will leave the body. Timing is everything!
Once fertilized, prenatal development begins. There are three stages:
- Germinal (conception to implantation)
- Embryonic (2 weeks to 8 weeks)
- Fetal (8 weeks to birth)
Chromosomes that carry DNA from each parent play a huge part in prenatal development. This is when you get all your "make-up". Some genes are dominant and some are recessive. Here are a few fun charts...
You can gather from these charts that prenatal development is extremely important. Teratogens are agents that can have a negative impact on development. They can range from drugs, tobacco, medications, chemicals, radiation, or even an infection from the mother. An embryo (during the embryonic stage) is at the highest risk for attack. However, these agents can affect normal development at any time. In fact, teratogens can even affect sperm, in turn affecting the unborn child.
Developing doesn't stop at birth. Infancy is a crucial time for brain development. By the age of 3, 80% of the human brain is developed. This happens with proper diet and nutrition. Fat, from milk for example, is essential. Neuron are the nerve cells within the brain, are the fastest growing cell in your body, and for good reason! During infancy, motor skills and reflexes develop, which continues throughout childhood.
Somatic development is physical development in height and weight. There are two types:
One of the most recognized stages for physical development is during adolescence. This time can be different for everyone depending on when they begin puberty and lasts until around 22 years old.
AAAAHHHHH! PUBERTY!
It sound so scary, especially when I think about my own children going through that stage of life. I think lots of deep breathing techniques will be needed. Basically puberty is when a person can reproduce. Girls generally hit puberty 2 years before boys. This is a very impressionable age for both boys and girls. Everyone is changing physically, but at different times. Most kids, don't want to feel left behind or different than the others and they are very sensitive to these differences. Maturing early or late can cause many difficulties, including abuse, early pregnancy, STDs, behavioral issues, alcohol and drug abuse, and lower educational achievements. Experimentation is a way of life for most adolescence. This is also a time where kids form an opinion about how their bodies should look according to society. This can lead to self-esteem issues as well as things like eating disorders. It is important for us as parents and teachers to communicate the importance of each individual child, highlight their strengths, and have an open line of communication about their feelings, questions and concerns.
Young adulthood is when people are in their physical prime. People in their 20s and 30s begin to exhibit a greater sense of maturity, responsibility, and self-control. I can imagine this is due to choosing a career, marriage, and having children. There aren't many physical changes that occur. However, folks in their 40s and 50s begin to see gradual changes, for example metabolism and vision and hearing loss. It is in the older adults (60+) where major physical decline begins and that includes organs and motor skills function.
Developing doesn't stop at birth. Infancy is a crucial time for brain development. By the age of 3, 80% of the human brain is developed. This happens with proper diet and nutrition. Fat, from milk for example, is essential. Neuron are the nerve cells within the brain, are the fastest growing cell in your body, and for good reason! During infancy, motor skills and reflexes develop, which continues throughout childhood.
Somatic development is physical development in height and weight. There are two types:
- Cephalocaudal
- Proximodistal
One of the most recognized stages for physical development is during adolescence. This time can be different for everyone depending on when they begin puberty and lasts until around 22 years old.
AAAAHHHHH! PUBERTY!
It sound so scary, especially when I think about my own children going through that stage of life. I think lots of deep breathing techniques will be needed. Basically puberty is when a person can reproduce. Girls generally hit puberty 2 years before boys. This is a very impressionable age for both boys and girls. Everyone is changing physically, but at different times. Most kids, don't want to feel left behind or different than the others and they are very sensitive to these differences. Maturing early or late can cause many difficulties, including abuse, early pregnancy, STDs, behavioral issues, alcohol and drug abuse, and lower educational achievements. Experimentation is a way of life for most adolescence. This is also a time where kids form an opinion about how their bodies should look according to society. This can lead to self-esteem issues as well as things like eating disorders. It is important for us as parents and teachers to communicate the importance of each individual child, highlight their strengths, and have an open line of communication about their feelings, questions and concerns.
Young adulthood is when people are in their physical prime. People in their 20s and 30s begin to exhibit a greater sense of maturity, responsibility, and self-control. I can imagine this is due to choosing a career, marriage, and having children. There aren't many physical changes that occur. However, folks in their 40s and 50s begin to see gradual changes, for example metabolism and vision and hearing loss. It is in the older adults (60+) where major physical decline begins and that includes organs and motor skills function.