| A | B |
|---|
| child-centered society | a society that sees children as important and works for their good |
| socialize | to train a child to live as part of a group, such as a family, culture, or society |
| culture | the way of life within a group that includes language, beliefs, attitudes, personal priorites, rituals, and skills |
| character | an inward force that guides a pewrson's conduct |
| development | the gradual process of growth through many stages, such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood |
| child development | the scientific study of children from conception to adolescence |
| individual life cycle | a description of the stages of change people experience throughout life |
| heredity | the sum of all the traits that are passed to a child from blood relatives |
| environment | the sum of all the conditions and situations that affect a child's growth and development |
| genes | sections of the DNA molecule found in a person's cells that determine the individual traits the person will have |
| genetics | the study of the factors involved in the pasing of traits from one generation of living beings to the next |
| neurons | brain cells that send and receive electrical impulses amongst each other that direct the various tasks of the brain. |
| witing | network of fibers that carry brain signals between neurons |
| axons | long, thick cables that transmit all the signals from a neuron to other neurons |
| dendrites | short, bushy cables that allow each neuron to receive signals sent by other neurons |
| synapse | a tiny gap between a dendrite of one neuron the the axon of another across which electrical impulses can be transmitted |
| pruning | the process of weeding out underused or weak connections between neurons |
| window of opportunity | a prime period in a child's life for developing a particular skill if given the chance to do so |
| plasticity | the ability of the brain to be shaped and reshaped, which is greatest early in life |
| developmental acceleration | when a child performs like an older child |
| developmental delay | when a child performs like a younger child |
| principles of growth and development | statements of the general patterns in which growth and development take place in people |
| sequenced steps | steps in growth and development that follow one another in a set order |
| teachable moment | a time when a person can learn a new task because the body is physically ready, caregivers encourage and support, and the child feels a stronf desire to learn |
| developmental tasks | skills that should be mastered at a certain stage in life |
| direct observation | watching children in their natural environments |
| indirect observation | observation done by methods other than watching children, including asking other people questions about the children and observing the products children make |
