Essay Questions


1		A good friend of yours just had a baby and, knowing you are taking this course in life-span development, confides in you about her concerns. She says her baby sleeps "almost all the time" and doesn't seem to look at her when she feeds, rocks, or talks to the child. Because of this your friend is worried about her baby's hearing and vision, and is also concerned about whether the baby's nutritional needs are being adequately met and, her greatest concern comes from horror stories she has heard about sudden infant death syndrome. She's also told you that her baby seems to "thrash about" at things and doesn't seem coordinated. What would you tell her about sleep patterns that a normal baby experiences and the best sleeping position to reduce the risk of SIDS? What nutritional advice can you give her? How would you explain the development of motor skills as well as sensory and perceptual development, addressing issues of intermodal perception and perceptual-motor coupling and unification? What strategies might you suggest to your friend for helping her infant develop competently?



2		Your high school psychology teacher has learned that you are taking this course in Life-Span Development and has asked you to talk to her class about the course of infant development. She has asked that you describe the patterns of cephalocaudal and proximodistal development, gross versus fine motor skills, and the development of sensation and perception. When you talked to her about this presentation, you noted she has assumed you know all about intermodal perception and perceptual-motor coupling and unification because she wants you to explain those concepts to her class a well. Remembering that this was your favorite teacher in high school, what would you tell these high school students in response to her request?

2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.