1
, months infants show more discriminate interest in stimuli and
begin to play alone with a rattle or soft stuffed toy or with someone
else. They interact much more during play. By 4 months of age
they laugh aloud, show preference for certain toys, and become
excited when food or a favorite object is brought to them. They
recognize an image in a mirror, smile at it, and vocalize to it.
By 6 months to 1 year, play involves sensorimotor skills. Infants
play actual games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. They
demonstrate verbal repetition and imitation of simple gestures.
Play is much more selective, not only in terms of specific toys but
also in terms of ―playmates.‖ Although play is solitary or one
sided, infants choose with whom they will interact. At 6 to 8
months they usually refuse to play with strangers. Parents are
definite favorites, and infants know how to attract their attention.
At 6 months they extend the arms to be picked up, at 7 months
cough to make their presence known, at 10 months pull the parent's
clothing, and at 12 months call them by name. This represents a
tremendous advance from the newborn who signaled biologic
needs by crying to express displeasure.
o Toddlers
Play magnifies toddlers' physical and psychosocial development.
Interaction with people becomes increasingly important. The
solitary play of infancy progresses to parallel play: the toddler
plays alongside, not with, other children. Although sensorimotor
play is still prominent, there is much less emphasis on the
exclusive use of one sensory modality. The toddler inspects the
toy, talks to the toy, tests its strength and durability, and invents
several uses for it.
Play assumes many forms and serves several functions. Toddlers
benefit from a wide variety of play interactions (e.g., alone, with
other children, with adults), environments (e.g., own home, other
children's homes, park, playgrounds), and activities (e.g., active,
quiet, organized, unstructured).
Imitation is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of play
and enriches children's opportunity to engage in fantasy. With less
emphasis on sex-stereotyped toys, play objects such as dolls,
carriages, dollhouses, dishes, cooking utensils, child-sized
furniture, trucks, and dress-up clothes are used by both sexes;
however, boys may be more interested than girls in activities
related to trucks, trailers, cars, miniature plastic soldiers or
superheroes, and building blocks, whereas girls may prefer doll-
related activities
o Preschoolers
Various types of play are typical of this period, but preschoolers
especially enjoy associative play, group play in similar or identical
, activities but without rigid organization or rules. Play should
provide for physical, social, and mental development
How Obesity is defined in Children
o BMI/Percentile
o Obesity in children and adolescents is defined as a body mass index (BMI)
at or greater than the 95th percentile for youth of the same age and gender.
Healthy People 2020 goals for Children
o The Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators (Box 1-1) provide a
framework for identifying essential components for child health promotion
programs designed to prevent future health problems in our nation's children.
o
Growth Charts
o Importance
o Growth charts use a series of percentile curves to demonstrate the
distribution of body measurements in children. The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) recommend that the World Health Organization (WHO)
growth standards be used to monitor growth for infants and children
between the ages of 0 and 2. The CDC growth charts are used for children
age 2 years and older.
o Children whose growth may be questionable include:
Children whose height and weight percentiles are widely disparate
(e.g., height in the 10th percentile and weight in the 90th
percentile, especially with above-average skinfold thickness)
Children who fail to follow the expected growth velocity in height
and weight, especially during the rapid growth periods of infancy
and adolescence
, months infants show more discriminate interest in stimuli and
begin to play alone with a rattle or soft stuffed toy or with someone
else. They interact much more during play. By 4 months of age
they laugh aloud, show preference for certain toys, and become
excited when food or a favorite object is brought to them. They
recognize an image in a mirror, smile at it, and vocalize to it.
By 6 months to 1 year, play involves sensorimotor skills. Infants
play actual games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. They
demonstrate verbal repetition and imitation of simple gestures.
Play is much more selective, not only in terms of specific toys but
also in terms of ―playmates.‖ Although play is solitary or one
sided, infants choose with whom they will interact. At 6 to 8
months they usually refuse to play with strangers. Parents are
definite favorites, and infants know how to attract their attention.
At 6 months they extend the arms to be picked up, at 7 months
cough to make their presence known, at 10 months pull the parent's
clothing, and at 12 months call them by name. This represents a
tremendous advance from the newborn who signaled biologic
needs by crying to express displeasure.
o Toddlers
Play magnifies toddlers' physical and psychosocial development.
Interaction with people becomes increasingly important. The
solitary play of infancy progresses to parallel play: the toddler
plays alongside, not with, other children. Although sensorimotor
play is still prominent, there is much less emphasis on the
exclusive use of one sensory modality. The toddler inspects the
toy, talks to the toy, tests its strength and durability, and invents
several uses for it.
Play assumes many forms and serves several functions. Toddlers
benefit from a wide variety of play interactions (e.g., alone, with
other children, with adults), environments (e.g., own home, other
children's homes, park, playgrounds), and activities (e.g., active,
quiet, organized, unstructured).
Imitation is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of play
and enriches children's opportunity to engage in fantasy. With less
emphasis on sex-stereotyped toys, play objects such as dolls,
carriages, dollhouses, dishes, cooking utensils, child-sized
furniture, trucks, and dress-up clothes are used by both sexes;
however, boys may be more interested than girls in activities
related to trucks, trailers, cars, miniature plastic soldiers or
superheroes, and building blocks, whereas girls may prefer doll-
related activities
o Preschoolers
Various types of play are typical of this period, but preschoolers
especially enjoy associative play, group play in similar or identical
, activities but without rigid organization or rules. Play should
provide for physical, social, and mental development
How Obesity is defined in Children
o BMI/Percentile
o Obesity in children and adolescents is defined as a body mass index (BMI)
at or greater than the 95th percentile for youth of the same age and gender.
Healthy People 2020 goals for Children
o The Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators (Box 1-1) provide a
framework for identifying essential components for child health promotion
programs designed to prevent future health problems in our nation's children.
o
Growth Charts
o Importance
o Growth charts use a series of percentile curves to demonstrate the
distribution of body measurements in children. The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) recommend that the World Health Organization (WHO)
growth standards be used to monitor growth for infants and children
between the ages of 0 and 2. The CDC growth charts are used for children
age 2 years and older.
o Children whose growth may be questionable include:
Children whose height and weight percentiles are widely disparate
(e.g., height in the 10th percentile and weight in the 90th
percentile, especially with above-average skinfold thickness)
Children who fail to follow the expected growth velocity in height
and weight, especially during the rapid growth periods of infancy
and adolescence
