Infancy period

1. Infancy Period
Dr.M.Deivam
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
The Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University)
Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu – 624 302

2. Physical Development
• At the time of birth the body weight is around
2.7 kg, height 19 inches and the head is one
fourth of the body.
• Milk teeth appear by 2 years and permanent
teeth by 5 years.
• At the first 5 years the weight of the body is 5
times than that of the birth.
• The size of the head begins to become lesser
when the body grows more.

3. Cont.,
• The nervous system develops at a faster rate
during the pre-natal period and at the first
four years of life. There is rapid development
of arteries and veins.
• The bones are soft and contain great amount
of water and minerals. The bones are less
attached to the muscles.
• There is development of muscles and fibers.
The stomach is small tubular shaped.
• It requires food quite often to get energy.

4. Mental Development
• Mental development is very slow. The various
aspects of mind like sensation, perception,
conception etc. are in the process of growth. The
child cannot think and react too well. He thinks in
terms of concrete object and precepts.
• Questioning attitude: The child is tempted to ask
may questions to the parents, teachers, elders
and so on. The child does not wait for the
answers and goes on questioning impatiently.

5. Cont.,
• Rote memory: The child makes mechanical
repetition without reasoning or
understanding. Nursery rhymes, some
important sayings and small sentences are
repeated often. Concrete teaching should be
done.
• Creative attitude: The child has a creative
sense. He can imagine and create sand
houses, drawings, paintings, which he finds
interesting. The creative work may not be
good but he should be encouraged.

6. • Time sense: The child may not have good time
sense. He cannot think of length, time distance
etc. The teacher should develop it slowly and
gradually.
• Make believe (Fantasy)
The child may not be developed mentally,
emotionally and socially. He has high ambitions or
desires, but cannot fulfill the desires. Hence, there
is a baseless and imaginative fantasy. The child may
have day dreams. The teacher should engage the
child and ignite interest for concrete imaginative.

7. Emotional Development
• Emotional development can be found in the
child, right from the birth. The child begins to
cry after birth which reveals there is some
emotional element in him. Soon after birth
the child is sensitive to strong stimulation
from outside.
• But the stimulation cannot be differentiated.
Later the child learns the difference between
pleasure and pain.

8. Cont.,
• Example: When hot and cold objects are
applied on baby’s skin, which cause discomfort
and vice versa., According to Spitz, the baby
begins to smile after a period of three months
when the elders cajole it. After a period of six
months, there is a sense of fear, jealousy,
disgust, anger etc. There is sympathy, love, co-
operation, social approach etc. after one year.

9. Social Development
• Dependence of the child:
The child has to depend upon his parents
for food, shelter, clothing and expects love,
affection and guidance from them at every
stage. He cannot live, think and act
independently.

10. • Self-assertion
After a particular period the child wants to
dominate his parents and elders. He wants that
his words and ideas should be performed by one
and all. Sometimes he whishes to dictate the
teacher to obey his orders. The teacher should
take this aspect into consideration, if it is a good
suggestion.

11. • Selfish and Unsocial:
The child is quite selfish. He wants all the things
for himself. He does not want to give his possessions
to others. He wants all the toys, play materials etc.
for himself. The teacher should adjust his teaching
taking into account the selfish attitude of the child
in a good sense.

12. • Social attitude:
From 12th to 18th month, the child
gradually shifts emphasis from play materials to
playmates. During the 3rd year he learns to part
with his possessions. Upto 6 years the child
companionship.

13. Moral development
The child is always selfish. He fails to think
of good and bad things. He behaves
instinctively; he learns by repetition.
Therefore infancy is a period of
dependence and instinctive behaviour.

14. Educational Significance
• At this initial stage he/she should be provide
wooden blocks and other simple paly materials
which he/she may handle easily and do not
required any special skill.
• Adequate freedom should be give in all his
moments; otherwise he/she will not be able to
develop his normal personality.
• The child should feel secure in the family and
the parents should treat him/her well.

15. Cont.,
• Every child is curious about his social
environment. The parents and the teachers
should try to satisfy the need of the child by
answering all the questions asked by him/her.
• Infancy stage is the plastic age or formative age
of the child. Step should be taken towards the
formation of good habits by the teachers and
the parents at the formative years.

16. Cont.,
• Play is natural to the child. Let him/her play
and learn. This will make learning easier and
acceptable to the child.
• Children at this stage are interested in hearing
stories and seeing multi-colored pictures.

17. Thank you