Development Stages

Child development studies is an interdisciplinary field, which studies the development of a small fry from conception to churlhood through adolescence and emerging adulthood. Child development is divided into three broad domains physical, cognitive, and emotional and social. Some experts state that child development is a continuous process while others argue that it follows discontinuous stages.Recent theories on child development include information processing, which views the mind as a complex estimator ethology, which emphasizes the evolutionary origins and adaptive behavior Vygotskys sociocultural theory that focuses on understanding cultural influences ecological systems theory where environment is believed to play a intent in development and dynamic systems perspective according to which changes in physical or social systems account for a childs behavior (Chapter 1). The characteristics of each individual depend on their genotypes and environment.Chromosomes, which contain genes determine our hereditary characteristics. The child inherits two genes on each chromosome from its parents. The dominant gene is responsible for inherited characteristics. chromosomal abnormalities, such(prenominal) as Down syndrome, occur due to errors at the time of meiosis. Genetic counseling helps parents avoid the risk of giving surrendering to children with genetic defects. The childs family, economic status, neighborhood, school, and favorable public policies play an important influence in shaping his or her personality (Chapter 2).More couples are choosing to remain childless, using birth control measures, and delaying their birth ages today compared to previous times. Children with low birth weight are more prone to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes in adulthood and high birth weight are more prone to breast cancer in adulthood. Factors such as teratogens usage of certain prescription drugs, such as thalidomide extralegal drugs tobacco alcohol exposure to radiat ion environmental pollution, infectious diseases nutrition emotional stress and maternal age shape prenatal development (Chapter 3).The Apgar bulls eye determines a newborn childs physical condition at birth. Natural childbirth involves preparing an expectant mother about childbirth. Various medical interventions, such as fetal monitors, forceps, and cesarean delivery assist during childbirth complications. Complications at birth might cause conditions like cerebral palsy in a newborn. Brazeltons Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale is used to assess the behavior of the newborn (Chapter 4).References Chapter 1 History, Theory, and Research Strategies, pp. 1-76.Chapter 2 Biological and Environmental Foundations, pp. 1-67Chapter 3 prenatal Development, pp. 1-39.Chapter 4 Birth and the Newborn Baby, pp. 1-48.