Infant Lifespan Development and the Nature/Nurture Controversy

Human Growth and Development Assignment 4
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Human Growth and Development Assignment 4
Part A
The lifespan development of an infant is a very critical stage that requires clear attention in bringing up a healthy child. The physical complexions and development in infants can vary from one to another due to the nature of embracing the necessities in their growth (Leys, 2020). Physical development is the first evident beginning from the head. Due to the weakness of the muscles holding the head, the infant is most likely and, in various circumstances, unable to withstand the weight of the head by the neck. Therefore, the first change that is clear in development is the ability to sustain the head's weight where they can turn their neck without much struggle (Leys, 2020). Recent findings affirm this by pointing out that a delayed ability of the neck to withstand the weight of the head can be an alarming complexion in child development. From the head, the infant's ability to engage in holding objects with the hands and trying to walk is a result of muscular development (Leys, 2020). The child gradually develops from the head to the hands, legs, and the general body complexions take shape.
Cognitive development revolves around the brain development in language, sensory, thinking, and reasoning capacity. As infants grow, they start focusing on their vision and reach out to know things that make their environment (Feldman, 2017). This is seen by their desire to engage those surrounding them and continuous reply to objects. At this stage of development, the infants may try to speak out the language they hear and try to make a response when confronted (Feldman, 2017). They can use the sensory organs to respond and are fascinated mainly by new objects. They tend to make cognitive development by noting several objects, and they master them (Feldman, 2017). During this change, the sensory organs of the infant are most used to make out a sound reply. A clear example is holding objects like phones and shaking objects to see their reply.
Due to the high nutritional demand in infant growth, a nutritional change is vital in the overall physical development. At the infant stage, the nutritional demand rises due to the protection of the infant from various chronic diseases. Therefore, the infant will require more energy for physical and mental development (Feldman, 2017). At these points, a lowered nutritional provision to the infant will bring forth a weak child with the inability to sustain the harsh weather and diseases. Therefore, the nutritive value in the food should revolve around a balanced diet content including nutrients, carbohydrates, and plenty of vitaminic foods for protection. A recent study on the causes of mortality rate aiming infants has been attributed to poor eating habits of healthy foods, making them susceptible to diseases. The cause of diseases like measles has recently been attributed to poor nutrients in infant development (Feldman, 2017). The brain's capacity to grow has scientifically been pointed out as a deficiency from the low nutrients in infancy.
Sensory changes are gradual coordination between the larg...