Question 1

What have been found to be the two most important contributors to height differences among children worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that ethnicity and nutrition are the two most important contributors to height differences among children worldwide. Ethnic origin determines genetic potential for height, while nutrition plays a critical role in fulfilling that potential. Adequate nutrition during critical growth periods, especially in the first 1000 days of life, is essential for achieving adequate height.

Question 2

The prefrontal cortex is involved in tasks of:

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is primarily responsible for executive functions, including maintaining attention and shifting between different cognitive tasks. It is less involved in spatial abilities and motor coordination, and while it can facilitate verbal skills, this is not its primary function.

Question 3

Jungle gyms,slides,and climbing equipment should be available to help young children develop:

Accepted Answer

Jungle gyms, slides, and climbing equipment are all forms of physical activity that require children to use large muscle groups and develop gross motor skills. These skills involve using the whole body to move, balance, and coordinate movements, which is important for overall physical development. Handedness, fine motor skills, and attention and concentration skills can be developed through other activities and experiences.

Question 4

Between ages 3 and 6 years,which part of the brain grows the fastest?

Accepted Answer

Between ages 3 and 6 years, the prefrontal cortex experiences the most rapid growth and development. It is responsible for executive functioning, attention, and impulse control, which are crucial for cognitive and social development during early childhood. The putamen and corpus callosum also continue to mature during this time, but not at the same accelerated rate as the prefrontal cortex. The parietal lobe is involved in sensory and spatial processing and does not experience the same level of growth during this period as the prefrontal cortex.

Question 5

Myelination in the brain serves to:

Accepted Answer

Myelination increases the speed of information traveling through nerve cells by insulating the axons and allowing for faster electrical transmission of signals.

Question 6

Which child will find the task of arranging objects in a precise pattern on a table most challenging?

Accepted Answer

Children's development in spatial reasoning and fine motor skills continues to develop as they grow older. A 3-year-old child may not have fully developed these skills yet, making it challenging for them to arrange objects precisely on a table.

Question 7

Her pediatrician has just told Karly that her 4-year-old son,Manuel,has gained 6 pounds in the last year.Karly should:

Accepted Answer

The normal weight gain for a 4-year-old varies from child to child, but on average, they gain about 4 to 6 pounds per year. Manuel’s weight gain of 6 pounds in the last year is therefore within the normal range, and Karly should understand that this is normal. The other options are not applicable or relevant.

Question 8

All of the following children are likely to be shorter than their peers,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Firstborn children are not typically shorter than their peers; in fact, they may have a slight height advantage due to more parental attention and resources.

Question 9

Brendan is 3 years old.His parents are concerned because he is always running and jumping on things.He cannot seem to sit still.Even when watching his favorite movie on TV,he still fidgets,bounces,and wiggles around.It is especially frustrating when Brendan will not sit still through dinner.Given what we know about child development,we would advise Brendan's parents to:

Accepted Answer

Brendan's behavior is typical for a 3-year-old and he is still developing his self-regulation skills. It is important for his parents to be patient and provide him with opportunities for physical activity to help him release his energy. It is also important to set realistic expectations for his behavior during activities such as meals and understand that he may need breaks or different types of stimulation to maintain his attention. There is no evidence at this point to suggest that Brendan has ADHD or requires a behavior modification program. Providing cognitively challenging activities may be beneficial in general, but it is not necessarily the solution to Brendan's current behavior.

Question 10

During early childhood,on average girls are ________ than boys.

Accepted Answer

On average, girls are slightly smaller than boys during early childhood. This is because boys tend to grow faster and have more muscle mass than girls at this age. However, this difference in size becomes less pronounced as children reach adolescence and adulthood.

Question 11

Reggio Emilia is a city in northern Italy;it gives its name to a philosophy and approach to a(n):

Accepted Answer

Reggio Emilia is known for its approach to early childhood education program design, which emphasizes a child-centered and holistic approach to learning. The approach is focused on the child as an individual and encourages exploration, creativity, and collaboration. It is often used in preschools and early childhood education centers around the world.

Question 12

Myelination occurs in the brain when:

Accepted Answer

Myelination occurs when nerve cells become insulated with a layer of fat, which speeds up the transmission of information along the axon. This insulation is what forms the white matter of the brain. It is not related to the development of more nerve cells, more nerve endings, or a more complicated network.

Question 13

By the end of early childhood,boys have _______,whereas girls have _______.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that by the end of early childhood, boys tend to have more muscle mass and less body fat compared to girls. Girls tend to have slightly more body fat and less lean muscle mass. This difference in body composition is due to the effects of hormones, genetics, and activity levels.

Question 14

Gross motor skills are to fine motor skills as ________ is to _______.

Accepted Answer

Gross motor skills refer to movement and coordination of the large muscles in the body, such as those used for running and hopping. Fine motor skills refer to smaller, more precise movements of the hands and fingers, such as those used for writing. Therefore, the correct pairing would be hopping (gross motor) and writing (fine motor). Choice C matches this pairing.

Question 15

Hallie is very active.She loves to tumble and show off.She is not afraid of doing what her parents consider to be hair-raising stunts.She also loves to run and believes she is faster than her parents.This type of activity level and confidence is most characteristic of the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hallie is very active.She loves to tumble...

Question 16

Myelination is important in development because:

Accepted Answer

Myelination is the process of adding a fatty layer, called myelin, to nerve fibers, which increases the speed and efficiency of communication between neurons. Certain abilities, such as fine motor control, language processing, and impulse control, cannot be fully developed until the associated parts of the brain are myelinated. Therefore, myelination is essential for the proper functioning of the brain and the development of various skills and abilities.

Question 17

When looking at the heights and weights of preschool children,we know that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there are ethnic differences in the heights and weights of preschool children. For example, Asian children tend to be smaller in stature and weigh less than their peers of other ethnicities. Genetics and cultural differences can contribute to these variations.

Question 18

Sanjay and Ryan are 4-year-old friends.When they are together,they often wrestle,run,race,push,and shove each other.Although their level of activity often aggravates their parents,we know that this activity will:

Accepted Answer

Wrestling, running, racing, pushing, and shoving are all physical activities that require the use of gross motor skills, which involve the use of large muscle groups to make coordinated movements. Therefore, engaging in these activities will help Sanjay and Ryan develop their gross motor skills.

Question 19

Three-year-olds scribble all over the page,but 4-year-olds can make more precise drawings that adults can understand.This is because 4-year-olds have more highly developed:

Accepted Answer

Fine motor skills, which involve the ability to control small muscles, such as those in the hands and fingers, are necessary for precise drawing. These skills continue to develop as children grow and become more adept at tasks that require fine motor control.

Question 20

Which of the following is the best descriptor of how children's brains grow during early childhood?

Accepted Answer

During early childhood, children's brains undergo rapid and distinct spurts of growth. This period of growth is characterized by significant changes in brain structure and function, including the development of specific areas related to language, memory, and social-emotional processing.

Quiz 5: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood