Características particulares, especificaciones y esquema

Growth and development can be affected in many ways and by a variety of factors.

Let’s start by thinking about each of these in turn:

Motivation

We all do better if we are feeling motivated. Motivation is linked to being

interested in what we see, hear, feel, etc. going on around us and, clearly, there is a direct relationship between being motivated and being stimulated to learn. This highlights why it is important to provide a range of developmentally appropriate activities for children that take into account their current interests and offer them new challengesin order to help their development to progress fully.

Adult expectations

If, as an adult, we do not expect very much from the children in our care, they are unlikely to develop as fully as if we were more encouraging. However, there is a great difference between encouragement and pressurising children to learn and to achieve. At times, too much pressure is put on children, as parents or carers try to push them on at a pace that is too fast for them. This is often called ‘hot housing’. Children in this situation are likely to rebel against learning or reach

‘burn out’ at an early age. A balance is needed, and learning opportunities should be targeted appropriately.

Health status

Healthy children will usually have all the energy necessary to benefit from the range of opportunities open to them. A child with a health problem may miss opportunities through prolonged periods of illness; they may need more rest, or may be restricted by appointments and medication needs. This can affect both growth and development. Owing to the health status of the mother, some children’s health problems started before they were born.

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Figure 1.21

Factors affecting growth and development

keyword ^Challengean experience that will help develop a skill or aspect of learning.

Factors affecting growth and development

Health status linked to pregnancy

Any woman planning to have a baby needs to consider the factors affecting the development of the foetus:

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^diet

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level of exercise

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smoking habits

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alcohol consumption

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use of drugs (prescribed as well as recreational)

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social life

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stability in her relationship.

Planning for a pregnancy in advance can enable a woman to give up smoking or using drugs before conceiving, and reduce or eliminate her intake of alcohol. It can give her time to assess if her relationship is stable, and for her to begin to eat a healthier diet, eliminating foods that are not considered to be completely

‘safe’. If a woman knows that she is unprotected against rubella (German measles) it is wise for her to be vaccinated, but she should then avoid becoming pregnant for at least three months after having the vaccination. Any unprotected pregnant woman should try to stay clear of children who might have the rubella virus, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, as contracting the virus may seriously damage her unborn child.

Women with long-standing medical conditions or disorders should consult their doctor before planning a pregnancy, to ensure that any medication they need to take regularly will be safe for the developing child. Doctors may need to make changes to the woman’s medication, either because it could harm the foetus or because it could make conception more difficult to achieve.

Folic acid

In recent years taking a supplement of folic acid has been recommended for women from before conception, up until 12 weeks into the pregnancy, as this contributes to the optimal (best) development of the baby’s central nervous system, helping to prevent the occurrence of problems such as spina bifida.

For an overview of this condition refer to Unit 8, page 000.

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37 Table 1.6 Foods to avoid in pregnancy

Soft cheeses Listeria, which can cause miscarriage Paté Listeria, which can cause miscarriage Raw eggs Salmonella, which causes food poisoning

Raw meat Toxoplasmosis, which is a mild infection in adults but can cause serious harm to an unborn child

Food Possible outcome

Environmental effects on foetal development

Infants are not only affected directly by the environment into which they are born and raised but can also be affected by environmental influences before birth. For example, antenatal development can be influenced by alcohol, smoking, and illegal and (some) prescribed drugs.

Alcohol

Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) results from the mother continuing to consume alcohol, usually in considerable amounts, throughout her pregnancy. In 1991, researchers declared it to be the leading cause of ‘mental retardation’ in the US.

FAS affects the development of the infant, causing delay, deformities and learning difficulties. Pregnant women are now advised against drinking alcohol altogether, as even a moderate amount can carry a risk to the infant and judgement can become impaired by alcohol, leading to accidents.

Smoking

Smoking (tobacco as well as illegal substances) affects birth weight due to the release of nicotine and other substances into the body. It can also lead to learning difficulties. There is a suggestion that infants born to smokers are at a higher risk of being affected by sudden infant death syndrome (also known as SIDS and cot death) and of developing respiratory conditions later on. Passive smoking is thought to contribute to respiratory problems in infants and older children, and also to glue ear.

Drugs

Any non-essential drug should be avoided during pregnancy. Illegal drugs, such as crack cocaine, cause low birth weight and developmental delay, and babies who are born addicted suffer withdrawal symptoms after birth and are in great distress. Many of these babies suffer all-round developmental problems and some develop epilepsy.

Prescribed drugs are only issued to pregnant women with extreme care, as some have been known to cause deformity and developmental problems. Most

notoriously, the drug Thalidomide caused severe limb deformity in some children born in the 1960s. The mothers of these children were prescribed the drug in good faith to combat severe vomiting during pregnancy.

Genetic inheritance

Genetic inheritanceis an important influence on our overall development as a person; it refers to aspects of ourselves that we cannot change, for example our sex, and the rate at which we grow, develop and age. Genes influence how tall a child grows, what sort of bone structure they have, and whether they have a thin, wiry build, or are short and stocky, heavy framed, frail and petite, etc.

Genes also decide skin type and hair colour and can influence whether the individual is likely to be predisposed to suffer from certain health problems, for example heart disease, in later life. Sometimes, the genes that are passed on cause certain conditions and disabilities.

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remember Cough and cold remedies are also

keyword ^Geneticinheritance features passed down to an infant from their parents;

this may involve the passing on of a condition or disorder through the genes of one or both parents.

Genetic counselling is available to help parents weigh up the genetic risk of their having a child with an inherited disorder; it can be obtained through a referral from the couple’s GP.

Illustrations of genetic inheritance can be found in Unit 8, page 000. You may find it useful to refer to this now to boost your understanding. For examples of genetic disorders, see pages 000–000.

Screening in pregnancy

Some conditions can be identified during pregnancy by antenatal screening.

Specific tests are offered to some women depending on circumstances. For example, older mothers or women with a family history of certain inherited disorders will be offered additional screening.

Antenatal tests include the following:

Blood tests

Routine tests on blood can screen for low iron levels, venereal disease and rubella (German measles). Low iron levels may need boosting by supplements, and venereal disease will be treated as appropriate. A pregnant woman who is not immune to rubella will be advised to avoid contact with the infection during the early months of her pregnancy.

Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan is a procedure usually carried out at around 20 weeks’

gestation to note the development levels and measurements of the foetus.

Measurements are taken of the main bones, such as the femur (thigh bone), the head circumference is noted, and the heart chambers are carefully examined.

Further scans are done if considered necessary by the midwife or obstetrician.

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39 Figure 1.22

A scan of a 20-week foetus

The foetus shown above is developing within the normal range. The measurements and examinations made included the:

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