Prenatal Development
This is the term for the developing baby from conception to 2 weeks.
What is the zygote (or germinal) stage?
This is the first emotion infants typically express, often within the first months of life.
What is joy (or a social smile)?
This repetitive sound play, such as “bababa” or “dadada,” typically begins around 6 months of age.
What is babbling?
This is typically the first major gross motor milestone, usually achieved around 3–4 months.
What is rolling over?
This is the body system activated when a child feels scared or unsafe, often known as the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
What is the stress response system?
During this prenatal stage, from 3 to 8 weeks, major organs and body systems begin to form.
What is the embryonic stage?
This term describes a child’s ability to manage their emotions and behaviours, such as calming themselves when upset.
What is self-regulation?
Most children speak their first meaningful word around this age.
What is around 12 months?
This grasp, where infants use their whole hand to pick up objects, appears before the pincer grasp.
What is the palmar grasp?
This type of stress becomes harmful when it is frequent, intense, and occurs without adequate adult support.
hat is toxic stress?
This nutrient, found in leafy greens and supplements, reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
What is folic acid?
According to attachment theory, a child who uses their caregiver as a secure base for exploration is showing this type of attachment.
What is secure attachment?
This term describes the rapid increase in word learning that often occurs around 18–24 months.
What is a vocabulary (or word) spurt?
Most children take their first independent steps around this age range.
What is 12–15 months?
Young children who have experienced trauma may show this type of regression, such as bedwetting or clinginess.
What is developmental regression?
Alcohol is considered one of these, substances that can harm a developing fetus.
What are teratogens?
Around age 3, children begin engaging in this type of play where they interact and share materials with others.
What is associative (or cooperative) play?
When toddlers begin putting two words together—like “more milk”—they are showing this type of early grammar skill.
What is telegraphic speech?
Around age 2–3, children can begin doing this coordinated fine motor task, like using crayons more intentionally.
What is drawing simple vertical or horizontal lines?
A predictable, warm relationship with a caregiver is known as this type of support, and is one of the strongest buffers against trauma.
What is a secure, nurturing relationship?
By this week of pregnancy, a fetus typically begins to respond to sound from outside the womb.
What is around 24 weeks?
This social-emotional milestone typically emerging around ages 4–5 allows children to understand that others have thoughts and feelings different from their own.
What is theory of mind?
This term describes a child’s ability to understand language, which typically develops earlier than the ability to speak it.
What is receptive language?
Around age 4–5, children develop this skill, allowing them to balance on one foot and alternate feet while climbing stairs.
What is bilateral coordination?
Chronic exposure to trauma can impact this part of the brain, responsible for executive functioning, self-regulation, and decision-making.
What is the prefrontal cortex?