BIOLOGICAL

of stages that occur from the

moment of conception.
Children’s development startsat this point and continues
through their adolescence years.

This process begins with the encounter of a ovum and a sperm

Genetic Foundation

influence their characteristics at birth and emerging

A gene is a “basic unit of heredity in a living cell; genes are

made up of DNA and contained on chromosomes
 Some characteristics awaken during
sensitive periods which are age ranges in
which environmental experiences are
necessary for the child’s development.

Other characteristics are controlled by

genetics, this is known as canalization.
Skills that are canalized include motor
skills such as crawling and sitting. Skills
that are not canalized are those that
children are taught in school such as
reading and writing.
 non-CANALIZED

CANALIZED
 Prenatal Development

Prenatal development refers to the

process in which a baby develops from a
single cell after conception into an
embryo and later a fetus, that is the
development of the new being in the
mother’s womb.

Prenatal

development of the zygote

is the combination of the
chromosomes from the female’s ovum
and the male’s sperm.
during this phase the new being start
development of the embryo developing after the second week and
through the eighth week after conception.
During this period the new being starts
forming the body features and the organs.

The formation of the fetus takes place during the

development of the fetus
ninth week until birth. During this phase the new
being starts developing sensory abilities, brain
structures, and vital organs.
 • Heart begins to bear
• Am buds appear
Weeks 9- • Reproductive organs form

• River, pancreas and gall

W • Tooth buds appear
bladder stan to form • Eyelids form
* Spleen appears • Fetus is very active
• Brain activity Can be detected

‘ Seq buds
appear
* Hands appearas paddles
•Blood begins tocirculate
•I-acial features start
todevelop
‘ -ingers and toes f orm
• Brain develops rapidly Alveoli form in the
lungs
“ Internal parts of the eyes and ears form
• Eyebrow s eyelashw and nails appear
• Muscles develop

• Hair follicles scan to form

• Elbowsand roesare vislble e Body fat Increases rapidly
•Bones complete their development

I/$"ee fi • Face begins to 1ook human

•Head hair gets coarser andthf ‹ker
$ •Brain is continuously active
 The Birth
This is the stage of pregnancy where the
mother and the family become the most anxious. Preparing
for birth is highly recommended and important. Parents-to
be should take classes to learn the most recent way of
doing infant CPR, feeding, bathing, changing and other
things that they will be doing every day with their baby.

There are different kinds of support that partners,

family members, friends, nurses and doctors may
offer to the new mom and the baby
•sharing one’s knowledge about baby’s
development.
•Show the mother how to take care of the
baby.
•Continuous support for parents of fragile
babies.
•Help parents to set realistic expectation about
the new baby.
PHYSICAL AND MOTOR
DEVELOPMENT
PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT

Physical development is the major

motor or physical achievements of a child
during the infancy and
early childhood stages.
Physical development is a vital part of
growing up as children learn to master
control of their body;

Sample Image
y 3 months 6 months 9months
child begins
Begins begins
Infancy sitting
craw ling standing on
and standing their ownand
without w ith w alking w ith
support assistance assistance

12 months
Can stand 18 months
Early
and 15months Able to begin
childhoo may start to Begin to w alk
stacking
take first Unassisted
d bricks
steps
3 years
2years Able to catch
Can run and objects and 5 years
Childhood walK hold Can climb, skip,
down steps 2 a pencil to hop and can
feet draw colour in neatly.
at a time. objecs

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MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Motor development means the
physical growth and strengthening of a
child’s bones, muscles and ability to
move and touch his/her surroundings.
A child’s motor development falls into
two categories: fine motor and gross
motor.

Fine skills refer to small movements in the

moto hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips
r and tongue.

Gross motor skills involve motor

Gross development of muscles that enable
motor babies to hold up their heads, sit and
crawl, and eventually walk, run,
jump and skip.
FINE MOTOR
GROSS MOTOR

Motor development is important throughout

a child’s early life, because physical
development is tied to other development
areas.