Unit 4 Assignment Child and Adolescent Psychology

Thinking about Physical Development Throughout the Periods of Development First/Last Name Department of Psychology, Purdue University Global PS220: Child and Adolescent Psychology Instructor’s Name Date Thinking about Physical Development Throughout the Periods of Development Physical development is a very dynamic process that unfolds in a very predictable sequence throughout the entire lifespan of a person. This essay explores the major trends in physical changes across the four major periods of development, inclusive of infancy and toddlerhood, the early childhood period, and the middle and adolescent periods. Particularly, this essay gives a discussion of body growth as well as motor development and vital components of physical development for each period (Young, 2018). In the course of toddlerhood or infancy, there are physical changes that significantly occur in a rapid manner as the child transitions from just helpless newborns to explorers who are active. For instance, body growth during this period shows up in the phenomenon of a tripling birth weight at the end of the first week of the year. Such a remarkable weight increase is significant for the essential development of the overall structure of the body, organs and muscles. As regarding motor development, an example is the milestone of walking, which emerges around age 12 through 15 months (Berk, 2016). Walking is a representation of the main motor skill advancements and contributes to the greater exploration of the environment. At this stage, g...