Infant Development Ch. 1-7

The stage of prenatal development that lasts from 9 weeks until birth is the fetal stage. During this stage, the organs and systems continue to develop and mature, and the fetus grows significantly in size. This stage is characterized by the refinement of the body structures and the development of the ability to move and respond to stimuli. By the end of this stage, the fetus is fully formed and ready for birth.

Infants typically begin to walk between the ages of 11-15 months. This is considered a normal developmental milestone, although the exact age can vary from child to child. At this stage, infants have developed enough strength and coordination to support their body weight and take their first steps. It is important to note that some infants may start walking earlier or later than this range, and both cases can still be within the normal range of development.

The sense of touch is the first to develop because it is essential for survival and is present even before birth. The sense of touch allows us to perceive and interact with our environment, providing crucial information about objects, textures, and temperature. It plays a vital role in the development of the nervous system and helps infants bond with their caregivers. Additionally, touch is a primitive sense that is present in many organisms, indicating its early evolutionary development.

Fetuses begin to suck/swallow amniotic fluid at 12 weeks. At this stage, the fetus's digestive system has developed enough to allow them to swallow the amniotic fluid, which helps in the development of their swallowing reflexes and the maturation of their digestive system. Before 12 weeks, the fetus is not yet capable of swallowing the amniotic fluid.

Fetuses can hear at around 22-24 weeks. This is because by this stage of pregnancy, the structures of the ear have developed enough for the fetus to start perceiving sound. The cochlea, which is responsible for hearing, becomes functional around this time. Additionally, the auditory pathways in the brain also start to develop, allowing the fetus to process and respond to sound stimuli. Therefore, 22-24 weeks is the age at which fetuses begin to have the ability to hear.

Category formation refers to the process by which infants spontaneously create mental categories or groups based on their observations and experiences. This cognitive ability allows infants to organize and make sense of the world around them. It involves the ability to recognize similarities and differences between objects or events and group them together based on shared features or characteristics. Through category formation, infants begin to understand and classify various objects, actions, and concepts, which lays the foundation for their future cognitive development.

The correct answer is labyrinthine because the labyrinthine reflex is the reflex that causes a baby to extend or flex its arms and legs when placed on its back or stomach. This reflex helps the baby to maintain balance and posture while lying down. The other options listed are not related to this reflex and do not involve the extension or flexion of the arms and legs in response to being placed on the back or stomach.

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Piaget's second stage of sensorimotor development is characterized by primary circular reactions. During this stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 1 and 4 months, infants become more aware of their own bodies and begin to intentionally repeat actions that bring them pleasure or satisfaction. These actions are primarily focused on their own bodies and involve simple repetitive movements, such as sucking their thumb or kicking their legs. This stage marks an important milestone in the development of object permanence and the understanding that actions can have an effect on the environment.

During the embryonic stage of prenatal development, the physical appearance of the embryo becomes clearly human. This is because the embryo undergoes significant growth and development, with the formation of distinct human features and structures. The process of organogenesis occurs during this stage, where the major organs and body systems begin to develop. The embryo also starts to exhibit recognizable human characteristics, such as limb buds and facial features. This stage is crucial in shaping the overall physical appearance of the developing fetus.

The third stage of spatial and object concepts is deferred circular reactions. This stage involves the infant's object-oriented play activity being interrupted, and then the infant resumes the activity. This suggests that the infant is developing an understanding of cause and effect, as well as the ability to mentally represent and manipulate objects in their environment.

In Piaget's 5th stage of sensorimotor development, which is known as tertiary circular reasoning, children engage in novelty and exploration. They actively seek out new experiences and engage in deliberate trial and error to understand the world around them. This stage is characterized by a sense of curiosity and a desire to experiment with different actions and outcomes. Through this process, children develop mental representations and can imagine what will happen before trying it out physically. They are able to use their cognitive abilities to plan and execute actions with an intentional goal in mind.