[Chapter 6] Early Childhood: Physical, Cognitive and Language Development Module Summary Physical Development

What does it mean to say that human development is integrated, interactive, and dynamic? Development is integrated, interactive, and dynamic. This means that the different systems-such as thinking, behavior, brain development, and physical changes-continuously influence each other and are constantly changing.

What role do physical development and brain maturation play in the major developmental events that characterize early childhood? Early childhood is a time of rapid physical growth and development; children's bodies become longer, more slender, and less top-heavy. Bones also ossify, or harden.

The brain growth spurt, which involves the rapid development of...