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Important Issues in Child Development: Reflection Journal

Adeline Melin

Department of Home and Family, BYU-Idaho

CHILD 210: Child Development

Brother Rowe

December 11, 2020

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Journal Entry #1: Applying 5 Principles of Development

Child Development 210

Select a natural (hereditary, biological, emotional, or personality challenge) and use the
five characteristics of development to chart your progress.

Define: Identify and describe a difficulty that you have been challenged to cope with and
improve.

I have struggled with anxiety for the past few years. It has made a lot of things difficult for me. I
have struggled with schoolwork, with the ability to focus, with relationships, and with self-
acceptance. It’s hard to separate my rational realistic thoughts from the thoughts that anxiety
causes, and then those anxious thoughts cause physical and emotional reactions that further
complicate my life, even if I’m able to work through what’s anxiety and what’s a real concern.

1. What direction has your difficulty taken? Have you seen improvements, regression, great
progress?

My anxiety has kind of gone in waves. It was bad two years ago, but then improved a lot, but
then got much worse during this past summer, and right now I’m doing a bit better! (I am not the
best I’ve been, but I am much better than this past summer) I think part of growing up is coming
to understand these waves and patterns. I’m learning about what triggers my anxiety and what
calms it, as well as coping strategies like changing my self-talk and controlling my reactions to
anxious thoughts. I think with some professional guidance I will eventually be able to manage
my anxiety and be a fully functional adult.

2. Can you identify any disciplines that have contributed to improving your challenge like
counseling, education, or medicine?

I have considered counseling many times, but when I was home my parents couldn’t afford it,
and now that I am at college, I don’t feel like I have enough time for it with all my schoolwork
and taking care of myself. Of course, part of taking care of myself is dealing with my anxiety.
There’s a lot about it I cannot control, but I can educate myself about coping strategies and
lifestyle changes that minimize anxiety. Eventually I hope to get some counseling and continue
to educate myself about managing anxiety. I’m hoping that through these steps, as well as
sleep, exercise, and nutrition habits I will be able to avoid medication, but that’s always an
option, too.

3. Did your family environment help or hinder your progress?

The first time that it got really bad, my family environment was definitely hindering my progress.
But this summer when I was struggling the worst that I ever have, my family environment helped
me calm down while I was at home.

4. Did your community culture aid in creating solutions for your challenge?
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No. I think my community culture was a big part of my struggle. I felt very alone in my
community because I was so different from my coworkers and from the people I had graduated
high school with. I think my religious community offers a lot of support and peace for anxiety, but
it’s very small, so my school and work community tended to influence me more. As my high
school years progressed, the gap between my values and my friends' values, and between how
I believe life should be and how it really was, became huge. That huge gap gave me tons of
anxiety. I think one of the reasons I feel a little bit less anxious now in college is that I’m in a
community that shares my values. That brings a lot more peace to my life.

5. How can you continue to promote positive change or plasticity?

I think that being here at BYU-Idaho is helping with my anxiety a bit, because I am around
others who share my values and who don’t ask me to stray from them. I am, for the most part, in
an environment where I feel comfortable and safe. I can also promote positive change by taking
good care of myself and taking time each day to relax and do something that doesn’t stress me
out. I am here to learn, and that includes learning about myself as well as what I’m studying in
school. I intend to keep an open mind about changes I can make in my thinking and lifestyle that
minimize anxiety and maximize peace and well-being. It’s important to be willing to give up
habits or ideals that don’t serve me and bring me peace. If I can hold on to that flexibility while
remaining committed to my values, I think I’ll achieve a perfect balance!
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Journal Entry #4: Avoiding Common Teratogens:

Child Development 210

Is there a
What are the effects of critical What measures can be taken to
Teratogen exposure on the unborn period for prevent damage?
child? exposure?
Higher risk of miscarriage and Any time, but Limit caffeine intake to 200mg or
Caffeine Use premature birth, possibly also more less per day, or avoid caffeine
birth defects dangerous in entirely
3rd trimester
Higher blood pressure in Any time, Talking with someone (friend,
High Stress mother means more risk of more doctor), eat healthy food, do yoga,
low birthweight, premature dangerous in plan, slow down
birth, and miscarriage 3rd trimester
Skin damage, brain damage, Any time Cook meat thoroughly, wash all soil
Toxoplasmosis eye problems, nervous off food, avoid cats
system damage, liver
damage, even death
Abnormal features, low Entire Do not drink alcohol while pregnant
Alcohol Use birthweight, ADHD, learning pregnancy is or trying to get pregnant
disabilities, intellectual dangerous
disabilities, problems with
heart, kidney, eyes, ears,
and/or bones
In the beginning of pregnancy Any time If you are worried that you may
Chicken Pox there is a slight risk of have been exposed to chicken pox,
congenital varicella your doctor can give you an
syndrome, in later pregnancy immune globulin antibodies
there is a risk of neonatal injection and it will reduce the risk
varicella and possibly death. of chickenpox
growth restriction, Any time, but Make sure your doctor knows when
Radiation malformations, impaired brain more harmful you are pregnant
Exposure function, cancer, probability of later in
miscarriage and neonatal pregnancy
death increased
deafness, cataracts, heart Most Get vaccinated for rubella before
Rubella defects, intellectual dangerous trying to get pregnant, wait 4 weeks
disabilities, liver and spleen when after the vaccine to try to get
damage, low birth weight, skin infected in 1st pregnant, don’t get the vaccine
rash at birth, glaucoma, trimester during pregnancy
thyroid problems, brain
damage
Not entirely known yet, but Not sure yet, Follow guidelines to avoid getting
Corona Virus may increase probability of but probably corona virus
premature birth any time
Can pass from mother to Any time Do not travel to places with Zika
Zika Virus baby, restricted body outbreak, talk to doctor about risks
movement, problems with
hearing and vision, seizures,

swallowing abnormalities,
possible developmental delay
Tissue damage in lungs and
Cigarettes brain, cleft lip, miscarriage,
preterm delivery, low
birthweight, SIDS, weaker
lungs
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Any time Do not smoke while trying to get
pregnant, while pregnant, or after
pregnancy. Secondhand smoke
can harm a pregnant mother and
her unborn child and also babies
and small children
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Journal Entry #5 Dr. Harvey Karp-Baby Calming Techniques

Child Development 210

Explain each of the 5 S's of Baby Calming according to Dr. Harvey Karp and reasons behind
each technique.

1. Swaddling- To properly swaddle your baby using the DUDU wrap technique, you must first
lay out your square blanket and fold the top corner down so the blanket makes a diamond
shape. Place your baby on the blanket so their neck is on the crease of the fold you just made.
Now- the most important step of swaddling- hold your baby’s arm down at their side and take
the blanket 3-4 inches from their shoulder and pull it tightly down and across your baby’s body.
The top should look like ½ of a V-neck sweater on your baby. Once you have pulled it tightly,
tuck it under your baby. Then, while holding the bottom edge of the tuck against your baby’s hip,
grab the top edge (next to unwrapped shoulder) and pull it tightly to make sure there is no slack
around the wrapped arm. Next, hold your baby’s unwrapped arm down at their side and take the
bottom corner of the blanket, pulling it up over that arm. Tuck the blanket under the baby’s arm.
Then pull the blanket 3 inches from the shoulder (toward the remaining corner) and pull it tightly
down, following the other side of the V-neck pattern. This is just “a smidge” of blanket being
pulled down- the remaining corner is still off to the side. Hold down the smidge of blanket
against the baby’s chest as you grab the last corner and tightly pull it up and across your baby’s
body to the other side. Ensure that this is snug by pulling tightly and tucking the corner in.

Swaddling is the “cornerstone of calming” because it recreates the feeling of being inside of the
womb. Babies are calmer when their arms are snug at their sides. This position also promotes
better sleep as well as calming the baby when they are fussy.

2. Side/Stomach Position- Laying a baby on its left side helps with digestion and can calm the
baby’s stomach. And laying a baby on either of their sides or on their stomach is more calming
that laying them on their back.

3. Shushing or White Noise- This calming technique is like swaddling in that it imitates the
feeling of being in the womb. When a baby is in the womb, the sound of blood flow is a loud,
rumbling white noise. Playing white noise for your baby can help calm them down and help
them sleep better.

4. Swinging- Again, swinging makes the baby feel similarly to the way they did in the womb.
When a baby is in the womb, they jiggle around a lot as the mother moves and does everyday
tasks. The most effective method of swinging for a fussy baby is small back and forth “jiggling”
movements. Be sure to support your baby’s head when you do this.

5. Sucking- Infants have the survival instinct to suck on things, because that’s how they get their
food! Sucking on things is a sort of reflex and doing it can calm a fussy baby and help them
relax.
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Journal Entry #7 What is the Timeline for Infant Language Learning?

Child Development 210

Age Language Ability Examples of sounds

or words used at this age
Newborn Reflexive communication crying
2 months Meaningful noises Laughing, cooing, fussing
3-4 months New sounds Vowel sounds, squeals,
growls, croons
6-8 months Babbling Ba-ba, go-go, bee-bee
9 months Can understand simple words Can gesture toward an
object in response to the
name of the object,
speechlike intonations
(using a questioning tone
is common)
First Words First spoken words in native language Ball, more, bath, mom,
(10-12 months) dad, hello
Word Combinations Multiword sentences (sentences that are just a
(12-24 months) few words long)
2 & 3 Years 4-5 word sentences (short sentences)

What activities encourage oral language development (using words sentences, understanding and
following oral directions and language, asking and answering questions, and engaging in conversation).

There are many things that parents can do to encourage language development in their child. First of all-
talk to your baby often! Before they can speak, they must first listen. Another one of these is teaching
their child sign language. Sign language allows the child to communicate earlier, and it makes it easier
for the child to learn language earlier. Another thing parents can do is speak in simple language to their
child (correct language, but still simple). This is easier for the child to grasp, and it encourages the child
to learn the simple words they are hearing. Be sure to build on your child’s language- scaffold their
learning and teach them simple things first, moving on to words that are slightly more difficult, and so
on. Another thing that helps is to give your child time to respond to you when you are speaking to them,
even when they can’t say words. Helping your child say something correctly aids in their language
development, too. Don’t tell them what they said was wrong- but rather, be sure to use the word
correctly in response to them.
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Journal Topic #12 Presentation Notes on Topics in Early Childhood

Child Development 210

I would like to include my notes on the presentation for obesity/childhood obesity…

- What affects obesity? Genetics, home environment, and other environmental factors can have an
influence.

- Using formula for infants can make it more likely for the child to be obese later in life. (or at least
overweight)

- The risks: high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, joint problems,
liver disease, gallstones, self-esteem problems, depression

- Things that can help: Avoid using food as a reward. Teach children that they should eat only when they
are hungry. Have your child get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity
per day.

- Recess time does not negatively affect academic performance; it actually usually enhances it.

- Outdoor play promotes getting sunshine, exercise, executive function, risk taking, socialization, and an
appreciation of nature

- The required physical, mental, and social skills for sports:

Ages 2-5: Don’t have a lot of skills yet, shouldn’t be competitive, they’re just learning through play

6-9: can play some simple competitive sports, but should focus more on improvement of skills
rather than competition

10-12: different rates of growth during puberty makes children of the same age vary in skill-
makes it a little bit complicated

Sports for children should focus on fun and make safety a priority. Keep the children’s differences in mind
and wait until your child is ready before you put them in sports.

Back to Childhood Obesity:

- If a child is overweight, their BMI is in the 85th percentile, if a child is obese, it’s in the 95th percentile

- Since 1980, childhood obesity has doubled.

- Sleep routines can contribute to weight issues (not enough sleep)

- If a person who is obese in childhood is able to achieve a healthy weight before their 20s, their long-
term risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, joint problems,
liver disease, gallstones, self-esteem problems, and depression is lower.

- Ways to lower the chances of childhood obesity: breastfeed instead of using formula, portion
appropriately, encourage child to eat slowly, make a good sleep schedule, choose healthy food for your
child, give the child treats in moderation, encourage exercise, be a good example of all these things.