Chapter 5
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

What are your thoughts on this statement
from the text:


“The general belief … is that stimulation is always
‘good’ and deprivation is ‘bad.’ … However, can we
overstimulate our children? … Is some degree of
deprivation ever in the child’s best interest?”
What are your overall thoughts on early
educational stimulation?
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
1983: “Bringing Up Superbaby” (Newsweek)
 2012: Fit Baby, Smart Baby, Your Baby!
 However:

May not be a worthwhile use of time
 May hamper emotional, physical, or creative
aspects of a child’s development

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Whole-child early stimulation
programs

Gymboree
Swim programs
 Suzuki method of learning the
violin

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers



Lack of evidence on whether programs do make
children safer around water or facilitate later
swimming success.
Recommendations from American Academy of
Pediatrics
Health issues:




Hyponatremia
Giardia
Asthma and bronchitis
Hypothermia
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
What do you think of these programs,
generally?
 Would you consider playing music to your
unborn baby?
 Would you want to involve your children in a
Gymboree program or enroll them in an infant
aquatics program? Why or why not? What
would you advise other parents?

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Twin brothers who were observed for the
first 22 months of their lives:
Johnny—Toys, stimulation, practice, experiences
in movement activities
 Jimmy—Few toys and minimal motor stimulation


Important factors in early movement
development: Level of fixity, readiness,
practice, attitude, and physical growth
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Information is sparse.
 Research on institutionalized children shows
physical, intellectual, and emotional deficits
as well as developmental delays.
 Deprivation dwarfism
 Hopi cradleboards

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Psychosocial dwarfism or psychosocial short
stature
 Reduced or failed growth during infancy,
childhood, or adolescence
 Involves reduced nutrition and a malfunction
of the endocrine system
 Stems from extended hospital or institutional
care, emotional deprivation, adverse
treatment, neglectful caregivers, etc.

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Anna—extreme isolation
 Victor—raised in the wild

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Critical period:


Readiness:


A time of particular or maximum sensitivity to
environmental stimuli; “developmental window”
The establishment of the minimum characteristics
necessary for a particular human behavior to be acquired
Catch-up:

The human power “to stabilize and return” to a
predetermined behavior or growth pattern “after being
pushed off trajectory” (Tanner, 1978, p. 154)
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Organism must have achieved a state of
readiness.
 There is a specific time limit.
 The effects of the stimulation during the
critical period create a permanent and durable
imprint.
 Critical periods may exist for many aspects of
human behavior.

Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Myrtle McGraw developed this film primarily
for a presentation to the Congress of Sports
Medicine in Moscow in May 1958. It shows
Johnny and Jimmy’s developmental progress
across many motor tasks. The final excerpt
shows Johnny and Jimmy’s movement in
several tasks at the age of 22.
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers