Chapter 6- Infancy This chapter on infancy was interesting, especially the beginning which mentioned, nearly 405 of all

babies born in Europe died before the age of 5. Most parents did not want to invest nurturing a baby that was not expected to survive. Most of the time the mother would give the baby to a wet nurse, after the child made it through the critical stage, the mother would take the infant back to care for. It is now known that babies go through the most important growth and development during infancy. Babies weight and head circumference and sleep patterns are prime indicators that an infant is growing properly, mentally and physically.

What I learned.
Mental dysfunction can be detected by the growth or lack of growth of an infant. The circumference of the head is important in mental development. The brain reaches its adult size by the age of five. At certain stages it is expected for the head to be of a certain size, as an indicator of proper brain growth. The second thing I learned from this chapter is that infants who sleep alone are able to fall into a deeper sleep. This deeper state of sleep has shown a direct correlation with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Babies that sleep with their mothers have a better time with regulating their sleep cycles. The occurrence of S.i.d.s is lower with these infants.

Question? If the abundance of brain development occurs during infancy, should

teaching begin before head start?

How will this help me as a Social Worker? Being able to identify how infants
develop and the importance of them meeting milestones can help me to determine the proper assistance an infant may need early in their development.

Chapter 7- Early Childhood

Two things I learned. I learned that attitudes and emotions are developed early,
around preschool age. At this age it is important to help them stay emotionally balanced. Helping them to deal with their emotions at this stage, may help them to avoid being bullies or arrogant adults. The second thing that was interesting was aggression. It is quiet natural for kids to act out in aggression, even if they have never had aggressive behavior towards them. We have biological drive for aggression. It is apparent at an early age that boys experience more aggressive behavior then girls.

How will this help? As a social worker knowing that the most cognitive
development occurs between the ages of 3-7. This helps me to put into perspective the way I would approach and deal with children of this age group. They are forming into the adult they will become. At this time in their development, patience and understanding is needed when dealing with them.

Question ? Should children between the ages of 3-7 be pampered because of their
young age, or should they be treated in a more mature manor given that they are undergoing a major stage in mental development? Chapter 8- middle childhood I learned that children have a need to feel accepted, not just by their parents and siblings, but their peers as well. Children that have poor peer relationships have the potential to evolve into adults who fail to have healthy relationships. Peer relationships help children with matters of morality, reasoning and sexual development. The second thing that I learned was that, life changes such as divorce of the parents, anger or hostility seem to have all negative consequences attached to how it affects the childs emotional development. Although the reading suggested that children experience aggression, if they encounter aggressive behavior on the behalf of the parents seem to have longer lasting results. It seems as though separation of the parents will have negative effects on children that are involved.

How will this help? A childs behavior is dependent on the environment in which
they grow and develop in. Knowing that violence and poverty have direct effects on childrens behavior will help me in assessing a child that is acting. This will help me to determine if they are acting out because of the home environment or because of other preexisting mental disabilities.

Question? Are children always negatively affected when parents separate? At what
age does the parents separation no longer affects the child? Chapter 9- Adolesence This chapter focus was about the development that occurs at this stage. Adolescents major development is puberty. The most important functions occur in the first years of life and the dormant parts are now awakened. The major development in this stage is becoming sexually mature and the initiation of hormones. The second thing that I learned from this chapter is that adolescents need to have healthy peer relationships; they also need to have a sense of belonging. In this stage, positive encouragement is needed to detour a teens negative actions, such as underage drinking and premarital sex. Positive adult role models and positive peer interactions are very important at this stage.

How will this help? Chapter 9 will help me to gage in on the difference in motives
that occurs between adolescence and early childhood. The thinking and rational that occurs within adolescence may be more hormone driven. Knowing that the greatest amount of thrill seeking happens at this stage will help in assessing adolescence that presents with defiant behavior.

Question? Should we sexually educated children to help aid in their development,

or should we maintain that sex is bad until marriage?