Child Development Vocab
Antenatal care
The care given to a pregnant mother and her unborn baby during pregnancy and ahead of the birth.
Artefact
An end product of children’s creativity that can be kept, such as a drawing, painting or model.
Associative play
When children communicate and play with the same type of toy or activity.
Attention span
The amount of time for which a child can concentrate on a particular activity.
Barrier method
A method of contraception in which a device or preparation prevents sperm from reaching an egg.
Birth partner
Someone who will attend antenatal classes and support the mother throughout pregnancy and the birth.
Caesarean section
An operation in which a surgeon delivers a child by cutting through the wall of the mother’s abdomen.
Communication
The giving and receiving of information.
Co-operative play
When children play together, actively working towards a common goal.
Creative play
When children express themselves by creatively responding to something that sparks their imagination.
Diagnostic test
Used to diagnose certain medical conditions in an unborn baby.
Fertility
Being able to conceive children.
Fine motor skills
The small, delicate, manipulative movements children make with their fingers.
Gross motor skills
The large movements children make with their whole bodies.
Hand-eye co-ordination
Using the vision system to control, guide and direct the hands to carry out a manipulative task.
Hazard
A hazard is an item or situation that could cause harm to a child.
Hormonal method
A method of contraception in which hormones prevent eggs from being released from the ovaries, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thin the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation.
Inclusive activity
An activity in which everyone can join in, including disabled children or children with additional needs.
Infertility
Not being able to conceive children after 12 months (or more) of regular unprotected sex.
Intellectual development
The development of the way the child’s brain processes information received from surroundings and other people.
Language
An intellectual development skill that requires children to understand the communications of others, and what they want to communicate themselves.
Literacy
The ability to read and write (young children will be developing this ability).
Manipulative play
Physical play involving delicate, operational movements made with the fingers.
Numeracy
The ability to recognise, understand and work with numbers (young children will be developing this ability).
Nutrients
The nourishment that comes from the food we eat.
Observation
The process of watching and recording a child’s behaviour to assess and track their learning and development.
Parallel play
When children play alongside one another but do not play together.
Physical development
The development of gross motor skills (large movements) and fine motor skills (small, delicate movements).
Physical play
Activities in which children use their manipulative of gross motor skills, develop balance or co-ordination, develop the senses or exercise the body and limbs (promoting fitness).
Postnatal
After birth.
Pre-eclampsia
A condition causing high BP in pregnancy and after labour. It must be monitored closely and can be serious if not treated.
Risk
The likelihood of a hazard actually causing harm.
Screening test
Identifies whether an unborn baby is more or less likely to have certain conditions at birth.
Self-confidence
When a child has a feeling of belief and trust in their own ability.
Self-esteem
When a child has a sense of self-worth or personal value.
Senses
Sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch.
Social development
The development of the ways in which children experience and learn to handle their own emotions and relationships with others.
Solitary play
When a child plays alone.
Transition
A process or a period of change from one state or condition to another, when young children usually need support, e.g. moving from a bed to a cot, starting to eat solid foods, starting pre-school, sleeping in their own bedroom.
Transition stage
This links the end of the first stage of labour and the beginning of the second stage of labour.
Weaning
The process of introducing babies to solid foods.
