Question 1

During early childhood, girls and boys tend to gain about how many inches in height per year?

Accepted Answer

During early childhood, girls and boys typically gain about two to three inches in height per year.

Question 2

During early childhood, which organ undergoes the most rapid development?

Accepted Answer

During early childhood, the brain undergoes the most rapid development compared to other organs. This period is crucial for cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Question 3

Five year old Jake brags to his two year old sister Kayla that his brain is bigger than hers. Jake's mother quickly points out that her brain is even bigger than Jake's. Compared to their mother, what are the relative sizes of Jake's and Kayla's brains?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Five year old Jake brags to his...

Question 4

When Jillian was two years old, her mother was discouraged that she would not sit through story hour. Now that she is in kindergarten, Jillian pays close attention to her teacher. What developmental process of the brain contributed to Jillian's change in behavior?

Accepted Answer

Increased myelination contributes to the improvement in attention and cognitive functions as a child grows. Myelination helps speed up the transmission of neural signals, making it easier for children to process information and focus on tasks such as listening to a story.

Question 5

What brain structure enables the right and left hemispheres to work together to integrate logical and emotional functioning?

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain. It enables the right and left hemispheres to communicate with each other, integrating logical (typically associated with the left hemisphere) and emotional (often associated with the right hemisphere) functioning.

Question 6

Following a bicycle accident, four year old Devin suffers damage to his Broca's area and consequently has trouble speaking. He eventually regains the ability to speak because other areas of his brain compensate for the damage. The process that allows one area of the brain to take over for another is referred to as ____.

Accepted Answer

The process by which other areas of the brain compensate for damaged parts, allowing functions like speech to be regained, is known as plasticity. This reflects the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and reorganize itself.

Question 7

In general, preschoolers appear to acquire motor skills by teaching themselves and by ____.

Accepted Answer

Preschoolers learn motor skills through observation and imitation, particularly by watching other children.

Question 8

Miranda's mother watches her daughter run down the street while singing at the top of her lungs. At what developmental stage did Miranda likely start this behavior?

Accepted Answer

Older preschoolers typically start to sing at the top of their lungs as they develop a sense of self and independence.

Question 9

Daniel sits on the kitchen floor banging on a plastic bowl with a wooden spoon. At what age will this type of motor-activity likely begin to decline?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Daniel sits on the kitchen floor banging...

Question 10

What is true of the relationship between gender and gross motor skill development during the early childhood years?

Accepted Answer

Individual differences in children often outweigh gender differences in many areas, including gross motor skills. However, research has shown that, on average, girls may have a slight advantage in tasks requiring balance and precision, while boys may excel more in activities that involve throwing and kicking. This reflects general trends and does not apply to every child, as individual variation is significant.

Question 11

Jordan and Jesse run around the playground chasing and pushing one another while laughing. This type of behavior ____.

Accepted Answer

This behavior is typical of rough-and-tumble play, which is a normal part of children's play that involves running, chasing, and play fighting. It is not necessarily aggressive or indicative of behavioral disorders; rather, it helps children develop social and physical skills.

Question 12

From the list below, which scenario represents the typical drawing style of a three or four year old child?

Accepted Answer

At the age of three or four, children often engage in what is known as "preschematic" drawing. They start to recognize the shapes they draw as representing real-world objects, like Caleb seeing his triangles as a sailboat, even if the representation is not fully realistic.

Question 13

Jodi is perplexed by the fact that her six month old daughter Alexis picks up her food with either her right or left hand. When will Alexis begin to show a preference for using one particular hand when grasping?

Accepted Answer

Alexis will begin to show a preference for using one particular hand when grasping between 7 to 11 months.

Question 14

Frank and Magda wonder if their four year old son Noah, who is left-handed, is at risk for any developmental problems. As an expert in early childhood development, you mention to them that being left-handed appears to be connected to ____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that left-handed individuals may have a slightly higher risk of dyslexia, a learning disorder characterized by difficulties with reading and writing. However, it's important to note that being left-handed does not guarantee developmental problems, and many left-handed individuals do not experience any such issues.

Question 15

Nala is worried about her three-year-old daughter Cindy's stubborn eating habits. Cindy refuses almost anything that Nala puts on her plate for breakfast or lunch. As Cindy's pediatrician, what do you tell Nala?

Accepted Answer

Cindy might be compensating for her lack of eating during breakfast and lunch by consuming more calories at dinner, which is a common behavior among toddlers.

Question 16

Sophie's three year old son Sam refuses to eat vegetables. According to the text, what would be the best way to get Sam to eat his vegetables?

Accepted Answer

Introducing tiny amounts of vegetables at several meals can help Sam gradually get used to the taste and texture, making it more likely that he will start eating them without feeling overwhelmed or pressured.

Question 17

American children between the ages of 1 and 3 average how many minor illnesses per year?

Accepted Answer

American children between the ages of 1 and 3 typically experience eight to nine minor illnesses per year, such as colds and minor infections, due to their developing immune systems and high exposure to new germs, especially if they attend daycare or preschool.

Question 18

What condition is connected with half of the deaths of children under the age of 5 worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Malnutrition is connected with half of the deaths of children under the age of 5 worldwide because it weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to severe diseases that can lead to death.

Question 19

What has lead to the dramatic reduction in the incidence of serious and potentially fatal childhood diseases in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics and vaccines have played a crucial role in reducing the incidence of serious and potentially fatal childhood diseases in the United States. Vaccines prevent the diseases from occurring in the first place, while antibiotics treat bacterial infections that could lead to serious complications.

Question 20

The single most common cause of death in early childhood is ____.

Accepted Answer

Motor-vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in early childhood, reflecting the high risk associated with transportation incidents for this age group.

Quiz 4: Early Childhood