EMT Basic · Chapter 7 · Review · Chapter track
Life Span Development
Referencing the content of EMT-Basic training and emergency patient care
Learning objectives (7)
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of a middle adult’s life — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of a school-age child’s life. (260–261) 5. Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of an adolescen — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of a toddler’s and preschooler’s life — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of an early adult’s life — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of an infant’s life — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Describe the major physical and psychosocial characteristics of an older adult’s life — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Know the terms used to designate the following stages of life: infants, toddlers and preschoolers, school-age children, adolescents (teenagers), early adults, middle adults, and ol — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 253); confirm wording in your course copy.
Chapter web resources
Optional reading from authoritative sites. Your textbook remains the primary source for this course.
- MedlinePlus child development · NIH
Life span development milestones
- CDC developmental milestones · CDC
Pediatric age norms for assessment
When sources disagree (5 topics to verify before you teach from this chapter alone)
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Vocabulary · 12
Neonate
An infant from birth through the first 28 days of life.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Neonatal terminology
Infant
A child from one month to one year of age.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Stages of development
Toddler
A child from approximately 1 to 3 years of age, characterized by rapid language and motor development.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Toddler — developmental milestones
Preschool age
Children approximately 3 to 6 years old; period of magical thinking and rapid language growth.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Preschool development
Adolescent
Person approximately 12 to 18 years old, undergoing puberty and identity development.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Adolescent development
Late adulthood
Adults age 61 and older, characterized by age-related physiological and cognitive changes.
SourceNIH National Institute on Aging — What happens as we age
Anterior fontanelle
The diamond-shaped soft spot at the top of an infant's skull; typically closes by 18 months.
SourceNIH MedlinePlus — Fontanelles
Moro reflex
The infant 'startle' reflex — symmetrical arm extension and then flexion in response to a sudden change in head position or loud sound.
SourceNIH MedlinePlus — Moro reflex
Stranger anxiety
A normal developmental phase, typically between 6 and 12 months, when infants become wary of unfamiliar people.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Stranger anxiety
Menarche
A girl's first menstrual period, marking the start of reproductive capability.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Puberty in girls
Senescence
The biological process of aging at the cellular and organ level.
SourceNIH National Institute on Aging — Biology of aging
Magical thinking
A preschool-age cognitive pattern in which children believe their thoughts can cause real-world events.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — Preschool cognitive development
Sequences · 2
- Life stages from birth to late adulthood — Order the standard life-span developmental stages used in EMT-Basic.
- Typical resting heart rate from young to old — Order these age groups from highest to lowest typical resting heart rate.