Biological Factors Affecting

Development
GENOTYPE
AND
MATURATION
DISEASE,
ILLNESS AND
DISABILITY
 Learning Outcomes
• Must know the effects on PIES that
genotype and maturation, disease and
illness and disability can have.
• Should be able to apply this knowledge to
answer exam based questions
• Could be able to explain how social and
biological factors can interact to affect a
child’s development
 Biological Factors
Children enter the world with an in built
system of functions, they are primed to a
certain extent due to their genetic make-up
or genotype.

Illness, disease, and disability all influence

children’s development
 Genotype and Maturation
• Your genotype refers to your inherited
characteristics. Those things that make us
biologically who we are.

• Maturation refers to the sequence of growth

that is determined by our genes. We can only
learn skills when we are maturationally
ready. Children pass through the same
stages of maturation in the same order.
 Physical Development
A child’s physical development is greatly
influenced by their genotype and
maturation. Both determine when a child
may master certain skills: such as potty
training.
In potty training it may take time for the
central nervous system to develop to
recognise the impulses from nerves in the
bladder – the child just can’t respond yet.
 Intellectual Development
How much of a child’s cognitive ability is
inherited? The research is conflicting.
The brain develops in response to
stimulation and thus trebles in weight in
the first year of life.
But children born to intelligent parents are
often also intelligent – inherited or
better/more encouraging environment?
Social and Emotional Development
How much of our personalities are the
result of inherited factors and/or
environmental experience?
There are parts of the brain that are
responsible for recognising emotions, and
there are hormones and chemicals
responsible for making us feel happy,
angry, depressed etc.
 Disease and Illness
Disease and illness can affect children’s
development in several ways depending
on the severity and duration.

Long term absence from school, or

frequent bouts of hearing loss can make a
lasting difference.
 Physical Development
Medical conditions can restrict physical
activity (asthma, sickle cell diseases), and
thus affect gross motor development.

Children undergoing treatment for disease

may lack the energy required to take part
in physical exercise.
 Intellectual Development
Unwell children lack concentration, and
drugs for conditions can cause
drowsiness.
Repeated school absence can slow
learning – though home schooling can
help.
Children with hearing impairment or
learning difficulties may be slower to learn
languages
Emotional and Social Development
Ill children can miss out on relationships.
They may not be able to mix with other kids due
to a risk of infection, or may find it difficult if they
are infrequently there.
Chronic sufferers may have overprotective
adults, and they miss out becoming independent
and affect self-esteem.
Self-esteem can be low as they see themselves
as being different and cannot do the same
activities as the other children.
 Disability
Some children may have a disability as a
result of an accident, birth trauma, or
chromosomal abnormality.
The extent to which a disability affects
them will be determined by the support
from parents, teachers, and early years
staff.
There are many diseases and disabilities
but we will look at them next lesson.
 Physical Development
Children may be overprotected and not
develop self-help skills.
Some disabilities make moving difficult
and thus affect proper physical
development. Specialist equipment can be
employed to overcome these problems.
For example: a standing frame to support
a child who needs more strength in their
legs.
 Intellectual Development
Some disabilities affect the ability to learn,
concentrate or use language. E.g. Down’s
Syndrome and autism.

Other children may find that low

expectations and stereotyping mean they
are not given enough opportunities and
challenges.
Social and Emotional Development
Discrimination is a major factor for children with
disabilities. Access to the same education is a
problem but there is new legislation to combat
this.
It also means it is harder for them to make
friends, and be accepted. Bullying can greatly
reduce confidence and self-esteem.
Self-esteem may be low from feeling different to
other children.
Some disabilities affect the ability to make
friendships: autistics can find it difficult to
imagine others’ needs and feelings.
 Typical Exam Question
1. Identify two factors that can affect a
child’s language development and
outline how each may have an effect
(4 marks)

Select two factors: education, culture, housing,

income, parenting, disability, disease,
genotype.
Explain how each factor can affect language
(intellectual) development.
 Typical Exam Question
2. Jack has severe asthma and spends
days at a time in hospital. Explain how
asthma can have an impact on Jack’s
personal development.
(4 marks)

Asthma is an illness/disease. How can an illness

affect physical (motor skills), intellectual
(cognition and language), emotional and social
development?
 Typical Exam Question
3. Explain how a disability (biological/nature)
and education (social/nurture) can
interact to affect intellectual development.
(4 marks)

First explain how education affects intellectual

development and then explain how a disability
can limit access to this education or even have
its own impact on intellectual development.