Maharashtra HSC Child Development flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Development

A progressive, orderly series of changes in physical, cognitive and social-emotional functioning across the lifespan, distinct from growth, which refers only to increase in size.

Cephalocaudal principle

The principle that development proceeds from head to toe: head and neck control appear before trunk control, which in turn precedes control of the legs and feet.

Proximodistal principle

The principle that development proceeds from the centre of the body outward, so gross movements of the trunk and shoulders emerge before fine control of the fingers.

Maturation

The genetically programmed unfolding of physical and behavioural characteristics over time, which occurs in a fixed sequence but at an individual rate influenced by experience.

Normative milestone

An average age at which most children attain a particular skill, used as a reference range for screening rather than a rigid deadline for every child.

Zygote

The single cell formed at conception when a sperm fertilises an ovum, containing 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent, which then divides repeatedly.

Organogenesis

The formation of major organ systems during the embryonic stage, weeks 3 to 8 after conception, the period of greatest sensitivity to teratogens and structural defects.

Teratogen

Any environmental agent, such as alcohol, tobacco, radiation, certain drugs or infections, that can cause malformation or functional damage to the developing embryo or foetus.

Foetal stage

The prenatal period from week 9 to birth, when organs grow and mature, bones harden, movements and reflexes appear, and the foetus becomes viable.

Antenatal care

Regular health supervision of the expectant mother, including check-ups, iron and folic acid supplements, balanced diet, rest and avoidance of harmful substances, to protect mother and foetus.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight, developing gradually during Piaget's sensorimotor stage and usually established by 8 to 12 months.

Pincer grasp

The fine motor skill of picking up small objects using the tips of the thumb and index finger, typically appearing between 9 and 10 months of age.

Separation protest

Distress shown by an infant when separated from the primary caregiver, typically emerging around 8 months and peaking between 14 and 18 months.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's first stage, birth to about 2 years, in which the infant understands the world through senses and actions and gradually acquires object permanence.

Exclusive breastfeeding

Feeding an infant only breast milk, with no other food or water, for the first six months, followed by complementary foods alongside continued breastfeeding.

Preoperational stage

Piaget's stage from about 2 to 7 years, marked by symbolic play and language growth but by egocentric, animistic thinking and lack of conservation.

Conservation

The understanding that quantity, mass or volume stays the same despite changes in appearance, typically achieved in the concrete operational stage around 7 years.

Parallel play

A form of play in which young children play side by side with similar toys but without genuinely cooperating, common in toddlers and early childhood.

Cooperative play

Play in which children organise roles and goals together, sharing materials and rules, and which becomes common in the later preschool years.

Initiative versus guilt

Erikson's psychosocial task of early childhood, about 3 to 6 years, in which the child asserts purpose and independence or develops guilt from excessive criticism.

Concrete operational stage

Piaget's stage from about 7 to 11 years, when children master conservation, classification and reversibility but still reason mainly about concrete rather than abstract ideas.

Industry versus inferiority

Erikson's psychosocial task of middle childhood, in which success in school, play and chores builds competence, while repeated failure may produce feelings of inferiority.

Pre-conventional morality

Kohlberg's first level of moral reasoning, in which behaviour is judged by its consequences for the self, through obedience and punishment avoidance or self-interest.

Peer group

A set of children of similar age and status who interact regularly, providing companionship, social comparison and a sense of belonging outside the family.

Puberty

The period of rapid physical maturation involving the growth spurt and development of secondary sex characteristics, triggered by hormonal changes in early adolescence.

Menarche

The first menstrual period in girls, a late event in puberty that usually occurs between about 10 and 15 years of age and marks reproductive capability.

Formal operational stage

Piaget's final stage, from about 11 years, in which thinking becomes abstract, hypothetical and systematic, allowing propositional reasoning and metacognition.

Identity versus role confusion

Erikson's psychosocial task of adolescence, in which the young person explores values, roles and goals to form a coherent sense of self.

Imaginary audience

Adolescent egocentrism in which the young person believes others are intensely watching and evaluating them, contributing to self-consciousness and concern about appearance.

Authoritative parenting

A parenting style combining high warmth with firm, explained rules and encouragement of autonomy, associated with the most favourable social and academic outcomes.

Sensitive period

A window during development when the organism is especially responsive to particular environmental experiences, such as early language exposure or attachment formation.

Convention on Rights of Child

The 1989 United Nations treaty setting out children's survival, development, protection and participation rights, guided by the best interests and non-discrimination principles.

Integrated Child Development Services

India's flagship anganwadi-based programme providing supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-ups, referral and pre-school education to children under six and their mothers.