topic 5
Infancy and Toddlerhood
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Critical Thinking Questions During infancy the brain
is developing at an astonishing rate. This time period (the first 3 years of life) is now known to be a critical period for children; environmental stimulation has long-lasting effects on the development of neural connections
affecting visual acuity, language acquisition, even intelligence.
This information has been used by some overzealous parents to try to provide as much stimulation as possible for
their children in an effort to raise their IQ. Parents receive advice in one article after another on how to provide enriched, stimulating environments for their children. But are there limits on children's need for novelty and
stimulation? At least one author suggests that this is the case. After reading the following articles, try to answer the following questions. What does Bruer suggest about public reactions to research on brain development? After
reading the articles that follow, what are your thoughts about using brain research for public policy-making? What limits does Bucholz suggest on the infant's need for stimulation? Which, if any, of the positions presented here seems
more correct? Why? Provide support for your answers. "The brain and child development: Time for some critical thinking." John T. Bruer. Public Health Reports, Sept-Oct 1998 v113 n5 p388(10). "Brain research
and implications for early childhood education." Gail Lindsey. Childhood Education, Winter 1998 v75 i2 p97(4). "Windows of opportunity for early brain and motor development." Carl Gabbard. JOPERD--The
Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Oct 1998 v69 n8 p54(3). "Even infants need their solitude." (Infant Development). Ester Schaler Bucholz. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior
Letter, Sep 1997 v13 n9 p1(3).
Research Question
Developmental psychologists studying emotional development are interested
in the degree to which infants express emotions. Questions surrounding emotional development include the question of whether the amount of emotional expression differs between male and female infants and the contexts in which they
display emotional expressions. Read the following research article and answer the following questions: What was the sample for the study? How were emotional expressions measured? What were the important findings of this study? How
were these findings explained? What other explanations might there be? "Emotional expressions of female and male infants in a social and a nonsocial context." Louise Cossette, Andree Pomerleau, Gerard Malcuit
and Janusz Kaczorowski. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Dec 1996 v35 n11-12 p693(17).
Suggested Readings from Infotrac College Edition "Toddlers' emotion
regulation behaviors: The roles of social context and family expressiveness." Pamela W. Garner. Journal of Genetic Psychology, Dec 1995 v156 n4 p417(14). An investigation of the extent to which social context and family patterns
of emotion expression influence the development of emotion regulation in toddlers.
"Quality day care centers key in children's learning, study says." (sponsored by the
Natl Institute of Child Health and Human Development). Jet, April 28, 1997 v91 n23 p16(1). This research report examines effects of day care centers where care givers provide attentive and sensitive interactions with children. "The prescription for smart kids." (reading to children soon after they are born is being encouraged as it is now known that 80% of brain development occurs in the first year of life)(Brief Article) Linda Kulman.
U.S. News & World Report, March 10, 1997 v122 n9 p10(1). This article uses new research to suggest ways for parents to increase their children's intelligence. "Infant arousals during mother-infant bed sharing:
implications for infant sleep and sudden infant death syndrome research." Sarah Mosko, Christopher Richard and James McKenna. Pediatrics, Nov 1997 v100 n5 p841(9). A research report suggests that bed-sharing may reduce
incidence of SIDS through more frequent infant arousals from deep sleep. The findings suggest to the authors that further research in the area is warranted. "The biochemistry of touch." (research indicates denial of touch
affects infant's reaction to stress) (Brief Article) Rita Rubin. U.S. News & World Report, Nov 10, 1997 v123 n18 p62(1). A short article discusses implications of research reporting the beneficial effects of touch on
infants' stress hormone levels. "Observational learning and the use of retrieval information during the second and third years." Eugene Abravanel and Susan A. Ferguson. Journal of Genetic Psychology, Dec 1998 v159
i4 p455(2). This study of developmental differences in learning processes in two types of tasks: sequential recall and observational learning. "Keep Your Eye On...." (infant visual development, school
isolation, cocaine exposure, child abuse, self-esteem). The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, Feb 1999 v15 i2 p2(1). A commentary on some key areas of research and issues of child development.