Development through life stages report

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Ewelina Steinke Unit 4 Development through life stages report

Physical development

Human life begins with conception which is fertilising an egg, and then it is pregnancy and then birth and infancy. After nine months baby will be born and new born baby has to take easily digestible food such as mother’s milk in the first weeks in order to grow. Newborn’s baby brain isn’t fully developed but can hear sounds tell differences in taste and identify the smell of own mother or carer. Infants are born with various temporary and primitive reflexes.  The primitive reflexes infants are born with include:

• A newborn baby will turn their head towards any touch on the cheek.

• If you place your finger in the palm of a baby’s hand, they will grasp your finger tightly.

• If a baby is startled – perhaps by a loud noise – they will throw their hands and arms outwards, arching the back and straightening the legs.

• If a newborn baby is held upright with their feet touching the ground, they will make movements as if trying to walk. Babies prefer the sound of human voices to other sounds and soon learn to recognise their mother’s voice.

Childhood

Children grow steadily but less rapidly than during infancy. Children’s practical abilities continue to develop, at the age of 2 children may be able to run and to climb stairs one step at the time. When children are 4 they may be able to kick and throw a large ball. By age 6 or 7 a child may be able to skip and ride a bicycle.

Adolescence

Puberty in girl starts between 11 – 13 years although it may begin earlier in some girls. Boys start puberty later often between 13-15 years old. Puberty is a stage where body is preparing for sexual reproduction. Both boys and girls may experience a growth spurt where they will grow faster than before. Girls development:

  • Enlargement of breasts
  • Development of pubic hair
  • Increased fat layers under the skin
  • Start of menstrual periods

Boys:

  • Enlargement of their testes and penis
  • Increased muscle strength
  • Boys voices ‘break’ and become deeper in tone

Adulthood

Young adults are often at the peak of their physical performance between the ages of 18 and 28. Older adults tend to lose some strength and speed with age. Exercise can help develop physical fitness and athletic skills. There are a number of age-related changes that become apparent as we grow older. During their forties, many people find that they need to wear reading glasses. Some people cannot hear high-pitched sounds so well during late adulthood. Many adults show a thinning of hair, with hair loss being common in men.

The menopause

Women are most fertile in their late teens and early twenties. The risk of miscarriages and pregnancy complications increases with age and between 45 and 55, fertility reduces and then comes to an end in. The menopause involves:

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• The gradual ending of menstruation and a large reduction in the number of viable eggs in the ovary.

• An increase in the production of hormones to try and stimulate egg production which can cause irritability, hot flushes and night sweats.

• A reduction in sexual interest

• associated problems, such as osteoporosis, which can be caused by a reduction in the production of sex hormones

Final stage of life

The longest any human has lives is 122 years but the average of people living is 90 years old.

Intellectual development

The sensorimotor stage: birth to ...

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