What is the average weight and height of a healthy 6-year-old in a developed nation?
40–50 pounds (18–22 kg) and 3 ½ feet tall (over 100 cm).
What body proportion changes occur by age 6?
Children begin to develop adult-like proportions, with legs making up half their height.
What is the “just right” principle in early childhood?
A tendency for children to insist on eating only certain foods in specific ways; a normal developmental behavior.
How is insistence on routine viewed differently in children versus adults?
Normal in children but could be seen as obsessive-compulsive behavior in adults.
What does the prefrontal cortex control in early childhood?
Executive functions like planning, selecting, and coordinating thoughts.
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
Connects the left and right brain hemispheres and facilitates communication between them.
What does the thalamus do?
Relays messages between lower brain centers and the cerebral cortex.
What is the role of the cerebellum?
Coordinates voluntary movement and balance.
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
Produces hormones and is known as the master endocrine gland.
What is myelination and why is it important?
The process of coating axons with myelin to speed up nerve impulse transmission.
What is lateralization?
Specialization of brain functions in either the left or right hemisphere.
Which side of the brain controls the right side of the body?
The left hemisphere (and vice versa).
What emotion is the amygdala most associated with?
Fear and anxiety.
What is the main function of the hippocampus?
Memory processing, especially for locations.
What does the hypothalamus do?
Controls maintenance functions and produces hormones in response to the amygdala and hippocampus.
How does the hypothalamus interact with the pituitary gland?
It signals the pituitary to release hormones.
What is the HPA axis?
The system connecting the Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland, and Adrenal cortex, involved in stress and hormonal responses.
What are gross motor skills?
Skills involving large body movements like running and jumping.
What are fine motor skills?
Skills involving small, precise movements like drawing or buttoning a shirt.
What is injury control (harm reduction)?
Strategies to prevent or minimize harm from potentially dangerous situations.
What are the three levels of injury prevention?
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Tertiary Prevention
