Physical Growth of Children
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Physical Growth
When we talk about physical growth, we are referring to the increase in body size (length or height and weight) and the size of organs. It is important to note that children grow fast in the first two years after birth. Physical growth is the part of child development that includes motor, cognitive, and socialemotional aspects. On the other hand, this matter is also related to geographical factors. For example, almost 43 percent of children under five years of age in countries classified as low- or middle-income are at risk of failing to reach their developmental potential.
On the other hand, the WHO Child Growth Standards are the result of observations recognized in healthy infants and children throughout the world (a sample that includes 227 children from Ghana, 173 from India, 148 from Norway, 149 from Oman, and 119 from the USA).
The First Stage: Changes in Body Proportions
Changes in body proportions determine the first years of human life. In the early years, the head makes up about 25 percent of a person’s length. Next, in adulthood, the head comprises about 15 percent of a person’s size. For this reason, raising your head during your first year of life is a difficult task.
Brain and Basic Motor Skills
Also, the weight of the brain at birth is only about 25 percent of the adult weight, and by age 2, it is 75 percent. Finally, it reaches 100 percent by age seven.
During the first two years of life, primary motor skills such as movement ability begin to develop. In the same way, the initial motor skills in infants are involuntary movements called reflexes, which arise in response to stimulation (breathing reflexes to maintain an oxygen supply and reflexes that maintain body temperature such as crying). Other reflexes are associated with feeding (sucking reflexes). Later on, other involuntary movements occur by the development of additional abilities such as crawling and walking.
Nutrition In all children, nutrition is vital for cognitive and intellectual development. Poor nutrition can cause problems since it may cause the child to be tired and unable to learn at school.
Call Yout Trusted Pediatrician
For further information, call your professionals on Pineville pediatrics or Ballantyne pediatrician
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