SACE Stage 2 Child Studies cheat sheet

Development follows predictable sequences (cephalocaudal head-to-toe, proximodistal centre-outward) but rates vary between individual children.

Domains: physical/motor, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and moral; these interact rather than develop in isolation.

Gross motor milestones: sits unsupported ~6-8 months, crawls ~8-10 months, walks ~12-15 months, runs ~18-24 months.

Fine motor: palmar grasp ~4-5 months, pincer grasp ~9-12 months, scribbles ~15 months, copies circle ~3 years.

Language: cooing ~2 months, babbling ~6 months, first words ~12 months, two-word phrases ~18-24 months, ~50 words by 18 months.

Piaget stages: sensorimotor (0-2), preoperational (2-7, egocentric, symbolic play), concrete operational (7-11, conservation), formal operational (11+).

Erikson psychosocial stages: trust v mistrust (0-1), autonomy v shame (1-3), initiative v guilt (3-6), industry v inferiority (6-12).

Bowlby/Ainsworth attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, disorganised; separation anxiety peaks ~8-18 months.

Immunisation schedule in Australia: hepatitis B at birth; DTPa, IPV, Hib, hep B, pneumococcal and rotavirus at 2, 4 and 6 months; MMR and meningococcal ACWY at 12 months and 18 months.

Fever in infants under 3 months is a medical emergency requiring immediate assessment, regardless of temperature height.

Safe sleeping: baby on back, firm flat surface, no loose bedding or pillows, room-sharing without bed-sharing, smoke-free environment.

Injury prevention by age: falls and burns in infants; poisoning and drowning in toddlers; road and bike injuries in school-age children.

Choking hazards for under-3s: whole nuts, grapes, raw carrot, popcorn, small hard objects; foods should be cut lengthways.

Child protection: mandatory reporters include teachers, doctors and nurses; report reasonable suspicion of significant harm to the state authority.

Vaccine cold chain: refrigerate at 2-8°C, never freeze; discard vaccines exposed to freezing or heat.

Signs of dehydration in children: reduced wet nappies, sunken eyes, dry mouth, lethargy; oral rehydration solution is first-line for mild-moderate cases.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended to around 6 months; iron-rich solids are introduced from about 6 months alongside continued milk feeds.

Infants under 12 months should not be given honey (botulism risk) or cow's milk as the main drink before 12 months.

Key nutrients by age: iron and zinc from 6 months; calcium and vitamin D for bone growth; iodine and omega-3 for brain development.

Dietary guidelines: 5 food groups; discretionary foods limited; children need 4-5 serves of vegetables and 1-2 serves of fruit daily depending on age.

BMI-for-age percentile is the standard growth measure for children over 2; underweight is below the 5th percentile, overweight above the 85th.

Wellbeing domains: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cognitive; Maslow's hierarchy places safety and belonging before esteem.

Food allergy vs intolerance: allergy involves immune response (IgE) and can cause anaphylaxis; intolerance is non-immune and usually digestive.

Water is the preferred drink; sugary drinks contribute to dental caries and obesity; fluoride toothpaste from first tooth.

Bronfenbrenner's ecological model: microsystem (family, school), mesosystem (interactions between them), exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem.

Family structures include nuclear, sole-parent, blended, extended, foster and same-sex-parented families; each can support healthy development.

Early childhood education frameworks in Australia: Early Years Learning Framework (birth-5) with principles of secure relationships, partnerships and play-based learning.

Types of play: solitary, parallel, associative, cooperative, and symbolic/pretend; play supports language, social and cognitive development.

Community services for children include child care, preschool, maternal and child health nurses, playgroups, libraries and child protection agencies.

Socioeconomic factors (income, housing, education, employment) influence developmental outcomes through access to resources and stress levels.

Cultural competence: recognising that child-rearing practices vary across cultures and that services should be responsive to family values.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: rights to survival and development, protection, participation and non-discrimination.